The Biden government is considering hosting unaccompanied migrant children at a military base in Virginia, while officials struggle to cope with a dramatic increase in migrant children on the southern border.
Reuters reported for the first time that the base at Fort Lee, near Richmond, is being considered as the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recognizes that it must “aggressively” find solutions to the increase in numbers.
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Pentagon officials told Fox News that the formal request did not come from HHS, but that the site is being considered and investigations into the site are underway by HHS officials.
The Biden administration recently opened an HHS facility for unaccompanied children in Carrizo Springs, Texas. Separately, it is opening two facilities in Texas to serve migrant families and children.
But it may not be enough. Axios reported this week that in the week ending March 1, the Border Patrol forwarded an average of 321 minors a day to HHS. It is a dramatic increase of 47 in early January and an average of 203 in early February, the channel reported.
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The border has seen a dramatic increase in numbers, coinciding with the reversal of Trump-era policies, such as the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) and the reinstatement of “catch and release”, whereby migrants are released to the U.S. to await their hearings. Separately, the government and Congressional Democrats are paving the way for citizenship of illegal immigrants.
Republicans called on the government to restore a national emergency, while minority leader in the House, Kevin McCarthy, requested a meeting with President Biden on the growing crisis.
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But the government has denied that there is a crisis. DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas described the situation as a “challenge” this week as it seeks to “replace the cruelty” of the previous government.
The Fort Lee base is home to the US Army Women’s Museum and is named after Confederate General Robert E. Lee.
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If the facility is used, it will not be the first time that the U.S. Armed Forces have been asked to help with increased border migration.
In 2019, the Pentagon announced that it would build temporary shelters for 7,500 adult migrants on the southwestern border for those who would face deportation in a year that saw a migratory crisis in the spring and summer.
Peter Doocy of Fox News contributed to this report.