LOS ANGELES COUNTY — Two facilities in Los Angeles County will soon house 3,500 migrant children who are currently being held in federal detention centers after a trek across the Mexican border.
Up to 1,000 children as young as 3 will start arriving at the Long Beach Convention Center within the next week with a focus on family reunification, according to Mayor Robert Garcia. As of Monday, 18,773 children were in the care of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
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“We just got word from the Biden Administration that the migrant children who will be temporarily sheltered in Long Beach will be siblings as young as 3 years old. We will do everything we can to focus on quick family reunification,” Garcia tweeted.
We just got word from the Biden Administration that the migrant children who will be temporarily sheltered in Long Beach will be siblings as young as 3 years old. We will do everything we can to focus on quick family reunification.
— Robert Garcia (@RobertGarcia) April 9, 2021
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reached out to Long Beach last week with a request that the city temporarily provide housing to children, similar to an operation at the San Diego Convention Center that houses 1,450 children. An agreement was approved by the City Council on April 8, according to a press release. Details of the contract were not available, but the city said the children would not stay longer than Aug. 2.
“Long Beach has a proud and long history of welcoming and helping immigrants and refugees. From our Cambodian community to the work done by our churches and faith organizations, we have led with compassion and kindness,” Garcia said in a Facebook post. “As an immigrant, I know how important it is to support all people, especially children.”
Garcia criticized South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, who tweeted that she would not be “taking any illegal immigrants that the Biden administration wants to relocate.”
“Governor, your cruelty is apparent and an embarrassment to our country,” Garcia tweeted. “Helping children found alone along our border and reuniting them with family or sponsors is compassionate and the right thing to do. Immigrants have worked hard to build America – and we are here to stay.”
Governor, your cruelty is apparent and an embarrassment to our country. Helping children found alone along our border and reuniting them with family or sponsors is compassionate and the right thing to do. Immigrants have worked hard to build America – and we are here to stay. https://t.co/3NxtVlMYxe
— Robert Garcia (@RobertGarcia) April 14, 2021
Meanwhile, Los Angeles County is still working out the details of a contract to bring 2,500 unaccompanied minors to the 487-acre Pomona Fairplex. The massive site is primarily open land that hosts the fourth-largest fair in the nation. Several exhibition halls will be utilized for migrant housing. It is unclear when the children will arrive or how long they will stay.
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“Los Angeles County has a responsibility and an opportunity to care for unaccompanied minors coming to the United States. This is not a border crisis – but, instead, it is everyone’s crisis,” said County Supervisor Chairwoman Hilda Solis.
