PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - To
prudently manage its resources, Health and Human Services' Administration for
Children and Families has suspended operations at temporary unaccompanied
children shelters on Fort Sill, Okla., Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, and
Naval Base Ventura County, Calif.
DOD
facilities will still be available for HHS use through Jan. 31, 2015, if
needed.
All Unaccompanied Children
who were cared for at these temporary shelters on Department of Defense
installations have either been transferred to standard UC program shelters or
released to sponsors while they await immigration proceedings.
HHS was able to
take this step because they proactively expanded capacity to care for children
in standard shelters, which are significantly less costly facilities to operate.
At the same time, HHS reports seeing a decrease in
the number of children crossing the southwest border.
HHS expressed its deep appreciation to DoD for
its support during this humanitarian response.