The Biden administration is reportedly reopening an "influx care facility" in Carrizo Springs, Texas, to house unaccompanied migrant children. This decision comes in response to a surge in border crossings and increased strain on federal, state, and local resources, including in major urban centers like New York and Chicago, according to CBS News.
The facility in Carrizo Springs is not new to such operations; it was used in 2021 but has since been upgraded with additional facilities and higher standards of care. This marks the second time in less than two months that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has reopened an influx care facility, following another reopening in Pecos, Texas.
Internal HHS data obtained by CBS News reveals that the department received 13,000 unaccompanied minors in August and 12,000 in September, compared to around 9,400 in July. As of a recent Thursday morning, HHS was housing 10,960 unaccompanied minors, showing a significant 75% increase from early July figures when they had around 6,000 in custody.
Record numbers of migrant children have crossed the U.S. southern border over the past two years, posing significant challenges to the Biden administration. HHS received a record 128,904 unaccompanied minors in the fiscal year 2022, up from 122,731 the previous year. The majority of these minors originate from northern Central American countries.
Historically, HHS has used state-licensed shelters to house these children. However, due to the recent surge in numbers, the department has turned to unlicensed "influx care facilities." These facilities have been the subject of controversy, attracting allegations of substandard living conditions and inadequate care.
In a statement to CBS News, HHS confirmed the necessity of reopening the Carrizo Springs facility, emphasizing that it remains an essential step when other network facilities are at or nearing full capacity. Despite the past controversies surrounding such facilities, HHS contends that these are emergency measures crucial for managing the ongoing crisis.
