Patrick Offers Sanctuary To Undocumented Immigrant Children
BOSTON/State House - Answering a call from the federal government to help Central and South American children fleeing violence and depressed economic conditions in their home countries, Governor Deval Patrick on Friday offered temporary sanctuary to some of the unaccompanied immigrant children who have crossed the border between Mexico and the U.S. in recent weeks and are now stranded in southern Texas.
With leaders from four major religions standing behind him, the Governor said he has proposed two shelter locations for consideration by the federal Department of Health and Human Services - Camp Edwards at Joint Base Cape Cod in Bourne and Westover Air Reserve base in Chicopee. Ten days ago, said Patrick, the regional office of HHS asked if there were sites in Massachusetts with a minimum of 90,000 square feet where upwards of 1,000 children could be held for up to four months for immigration processing. The average stay for an undocumented child being processed by the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said the governor - possibilities include deportation, asylum in some cases, or reuinfication with family members already living in the U.S. - is 35 days. If HHS finds one of the offered locations suitable for detaining children, the cost of maintaining such a shelter, added Patrick, would be borne entirely by the federal government.
It is not known whether the Health and Human Services Department will accept either location as a temporary and secure shelter. Congress, which has battled the Obama adminstration over immigration for years, needs to appropriate funds for this shelter operation. Patrick mused that ordinarily he would have waited until more details were available before holding a press conference. But interest - both positive and negative - in helping the federal government and these children since he expressed some willingness a few days ago, motivated him to make this anouncement sooner rather than later.
Patrick urged Massachusetts residents to remember that the state has a responsibility to offer sanctuary, in part, because these are children. "While the reason for the surge in these new arrivals still need to be understood and addressed and the debate over immigration reform continues, it bears remembering that these are children alone in a foreigh land." They will need age-appropriate toys and books and the supervision of responsible adults, especially those who speak Spanish, said Patrick.
In perhaps one of his most emotional public statements since becoming governor, Patrick said his reasons for making this offer included his "love of country" and "lessons of faith." He invoked several historical examples of the nation helping foreign children in need. With his religious beliefs in mind, he said, "I believe we may one day have to answer for our actions, or inaction."
OMB Audio: MA Governor Deval Patrick on "love of country" and "lessons of faith." (1:51)
Debate over immigration and proposed reform that would create a path to citizenship for millions of people already living and working in the U.S. includes the idea that helping American citizens and documented immigrants first always is more important than helping foreign nationals. In answer to this argument, Bishop John Borders of the Morning Star Baptist Church in Mattapan said, "human instinct is to help people in need...there will always be resources to do good."
Eva Millona, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Alliance Coalition told reporters, "...we do understand that we have many needs, and there are people here who need a lot of help, and we totally understand that, but this situation it's about imminent death... This is about help to support children who are running for their lives so there's a huge difference here. And I think we have the resources if the willingness is there to do it."
Attempts to reach organizations based in Massachusetts specifically who are opposed to illegal or legal immigration or who have lobbied against attempts to create amnesty programs or make the citizenship process easier for undocumented immigrants were unsuccessful.
According to an informational (FAQ) handout given to reporters during Friday's press conference, the state does not have a timetable from the federal government but recognizes "there is a sense of urgency." Also, "before any temporary facility opens here, the Commonwealth will sign an MOU [memorandum of understanding] with the federal government to insure that, among other things, the state will not be responsible for the costs of the facility, and to ensure that the municipality hosting the facility has input on the circumstances of being a host location." The Boston Globe reported that George Moreau, President of the Chicopee City Council, said "The people up here are going to be up in arms over it. The people in the city of Chicopee are going to be very offended if they put them over here." According to the Globe, Moreau added, "the children should have been kept at the border." Chicopee city officials planned an afternoon press conference to address the issue.
Immigrant advocates - some of whom were in attendance at the State House press conference and applauded loudly when Governor Patrick said his decision was based on principal not politics in response to a reporter questioning whether or not the decision had anything to do with Patrick not seeking another term - also distrust the federal government's ability to operate detention facilities. Media reports from Texas and other border states sometimes describe horrific conditions for detainees. Activists in the Boston area have been protesting for more than a year over conditions for detained immigrants at the South Bay House of Correction, managed by the Suffolk County Sheriff's office on behalf of ICE.
According to the FAQ handout made available during the press conference, "While this will be a federally-operated temporary facility, we have made clear that Massachusetts will only participate if we can be assured that the children sheltered here will be provided with appropriate living conditions. Additionally, we have reached out to the non-profit and faith-based communities to see how we may engage the generaous people of the Commonwealth looking to assist these children."
