With an overflow of illegal immigrants crossing the border, the Biden administration may move to house unaccompanied migrant children in a former North Carolina school.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is considering using the American Hebrew Academy in Greensboro as an “emergency influx shelter,” according to a statement released by the city. The closed boarding school might become a home for 800 minors.
“On Tuesday, May 4, both City and County officials met with representatives from the US Department of Health and Human Services to conduct a site assessment of the American Hebrew Academy facility at 4334 Hobbs Rd,” the city said Thursday. “The facility is one of several sites across the country identified as unused property for potential use as a temporary influx housing for unaccompanied children.”
According to city officials in Greensboro, the Biden administration initiated the proposal. The city and county did not solicit the government. Greensboro city also notes it will “solely” be up to HHS as to what facilities will be used for migrants.
The school closed in 2019 because of financial issues. Members of HHS paid at least two visits to the school in the past several weeks. The federal government would be expected to pay for food, security, medical, and additional services, independent of county and city allotments.
As of May 2, more than 22,000 unaccompanied children were being looked after by HHS because of a shortage of standard sites at the border. It was estimated at the end of March that the average stay for minors was 35 days in facilities. Migrant minors receive classroom education, case management, mental and medical health services, recreation, and unification services.
“In the eyes of President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas, the only illegal aliens ICE should be deporting are potential terrorists and spies, or convicted aggravated felons,” said Mark Morgan, former acting commissioner of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. “The Biden administration, through its actions and policies, has signaled that anyone here illegally that does not fit those categories is welcome to stay—despite the fact they have broken our laws simply by crossing the border illegally and in many cases have defied a court order calling for their removal.”
The White House is spending $86 million on hotel rooms for an estimated 80,000 migrants until September. It amounts to about $352 a night. CBP Data from April found more than 42,000 migrants crossing the border evaded authorities and over 177,000 were apprehended.
HHS will announce its decision on if it will house migrants in the Greensboro school sometime this summer.
