Photo: Brittany Murray-Pool / Getty Images
The first group of unaccompanied migrant minors arrived this Saturday night at the Pomona Fairplex, a enclosure located in the Californian city of Pomona and that has been enabled to simultaneously host a maximum of 2, of these children. It is the last emergency resource designated by the federal government and local institutions for this purpose.
Lo s Unaccompanied minors between the ages of 7 and 14 years arrived this Saturday at 6 in the afternoon at what will be their home temporarily. Children and teens will stay at this location until they can reunite with their families or find sponsors, authorities said.
The Fairplex is the second campus in Los Angeles County to host migrant children , after it began on Long Beach Convention Center . The Convention Center was the first place in California to become a large hostel for them in late March .
“These children, as you know, have suffered abuse, persecution, deep poverty and violence and they are simply seeking refuge, ”said LA County Board of Supervisors Chairperson Hilda L. Solís Thursday night.
Solís added that the community’s obligation is to help these minors who need it so much.
“I am very grateful to the community organizations that joined us on yesterday’s tour of Pomona Fairplex. Thank you for your support and for helping us prepare a safe and welcoming environment for unaccompanied children over the past few weeks, ”wrote the supervisor on her Twitter account.
I am so grateful to the community organizations that joined us for yesterday’s tour of the Pomona Fairplex. Thank you for your support and for helping us prepare a safe, welcoming and nurturing environment for unaccompanied children these last several weeks. pic.twitter.com/USHoIUTDBs
– Hilda Solis (@HildaSolis) May 2, 2021
Despite the fact that some Republican states and politicians have long overstated the situation on the border with Mexico and blaming the Administration of President Joe Biden for what It happens, Aaron Reichlin Melnick, a spokesman for American Immigration Counsel, said that the number of children in Border Patrol custody has dropped by 80% since the end of March .
Melnick said that the government was able to reach these numbers thanks to the opening of several mass shelters throughout the country. However, the use of venues like the Pomona Fairplez is only temporary and, for now, will serve as a place for these minors to live, learn and wait for them to find for them a place where they can stay long term.
Saturday lunchtime, Los Angeles Times and other media reported that they would arrive that night they would arrive at the Fairplex between 200 Y 250 migrant children , up to one 10% of its total capacity. However, after the arrival of the minors became effective, no authority officially confirmed the number of minors.
Inside the place there will be an authorized area to sleep (with beds like the ones shown in the images below) and others to carry out recreational activities, educational or medical and mental health services. A designated space for meals is also located on site.
Today, I hosted a tour and a press conference at the Pomona Fairplex, a space that I am proud to share will serve as an emergency intake site for unaccompanied children. (1/3)
Photos courtesy of @ LaOpinionLA pic.twitter.com/XMbylcEu80– Hilda Solis (@HildaSolis) May 1, 2021
Bonnie Preston, Acting Regional Director of the US Department of Health and Human Services, said last April that Most unaccompanied children arriving at the US border have names and phone numbers of people who can sponsor them in the country and showing border agents.
The Mayor of Long Beach, Robert García, has also insisted on this aspect, who assures that all minors who will stay in his town temporarily have someone with who to meet in the United States.
The reason why children and adolescents have to wait in a massive shelter despite having family or sponsors in the country is, According to Preston, that federal authorities have to do a investigation of these people before reuniting them with the minors .