Politics & Government

'No Interest' In Shelter For Unaccompanied Kids: Alexandria Mayor

Alexandria's mayor said in a letter the city shouldn't be part of the search for space to house unaccompanied immigrant children.

All unaccompanied immigrant kids were moved from the Homestead, Florida temporary shelter.
All unaccompanied immigrant kids were moved from the Homestead, Florida temporary shelter. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson says the city shouldn't be considered in the search for Northern Virginia space to house unaccompanied immigrant children.

Wilson sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services after the city was notified on July 29 that the federal government was seeking space for a permanent shelter.

In the letter, the mayor says the city has "no interest" in hosting this shelter. "The Federal Government's current treatment of immigrant families is in direct conflict with our community's values," states the letter. "Accordingly, we want no part of the process."

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Wilson added that the Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center in Alexandria ended the contract with the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Refugee Resettlement because local officials opposed the detention of immigrant children.

The General Services Administration posted a notice seeking space on behalf of the Office of Refugee Resettlement, which would run the shelter. The space would house about 440 unaccompanied children.

Find out what's happening in West End Alexandriawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The federal government is eyeing Virginia, Florida and California for potential permanent shelter locations. According to the notice, the federal government is considering several areas of Northern Virginia for the shelter: Arlington County, Fairfax County, Loudoun County and Prince William County, and the cities and towns of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Herndon, Vienna and Manassas.

The search for space comes as HHS said all unaccompanied children have been moved from the Homestead, Florida, temporary facility. The notice says the estimated date for occupancy of the permanent shelter is July 2020.


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