South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster issued an executive order on Monday prohibiting the Biden administration from sending unaccompanied migrant children into his state’s foster homes and care facilities.
The influx of unaccompanied minors hailing from the southern border would create a backlog in the state system, the governor said in the order, noting that the move could lead to the coronavirus spreading due to “questionable” vetting procedures.
“The heartbreaking humanitarian crisis on our border was created by the Biden Administration,” McMaster wrote in a tweet. “Sending unaccompanied migrant children from the border to states like South Carolina only makes the problem worse. My Executive Order ensures that South Carolina’s most vulnerable children come first and the valuable services and care they receive are not disrupted.”
The state’s Department of Social Services indicated that South Carolina may provide “potential support resources” for migrant children through at least six facilities that “indicated interest and have capacity for placements” in a letter on April 8. The unaccompanied minors, if admitted, would be in the state’s care for 35 days.
MIGRANT FAMILY HOLDING CENTER VIRTUALLY EMPTY AS BIDEN SPENDS MILLIONS ON HOTELS
Resident “children must always be given first priority,” and the state should not be “on the hook” for service to the federal government, the Republican governor said at the time.
“South Carolina’s children must always be given first priority for placement into foster care and the State’s strained resources must be directed to addressing the needs of its children,” McMaster wrote in response to the Department of Social Services letter. “Allowing the federal government to place an unlimited number of unaccompanied migrant children into our state’s child welfare system for an unspecified length of time is an unacceptable proposition. We’ve been down this road with the federal government before and the state usually ends up ‘on the hook.’”
Two days later, it was found that the federal government was offering “a board rate approximately three times the State-paid board rate,” which would benefit providers to take in migrant children rather than those who are state residents.
The Department of Social Services specified that children could become a permanent cost to the state if guardians do not claim the minor, and it added that the influx to facilities might dilute the response to reports of abuse and neglect in facilities.
“Put simply, we have not yet seen adequate assurances from the federal government that these risks will be accounted for and solutions adequately resourced prior to the placement of unaccompanied migrant children in South Carolina,” the Department of Social Services wrote. “We share your concern and will work with your office as you deem appropriate to address this emerging issue.”
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President Joe Biden has faced mounting criticism for his handling of an unprecedented influx at the United States-Mexico border. The backlash has been focused on the surge of unaccompanied migrant children as the administration scrambles to find alternative housing throughout the country.
Numerous satellite facilities have been opened in response to the crisis, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement has entertained the option of housing migrants in hotels as holding centers fill to the brim.
