The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the opening of two more Emergency Intake Sites (EIS) in order to accommodate the record numbers of migrant minors crossing illegally every day. According to HHS, there are more than 20,000 unaccompanied alien children (UAC) currently being detained nationwide.
Minors who cross the border without a parent are supposed to be transferred to the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement within 20 days. However, there are currently more entering the country than can be processed and resettled within the required time period, leading to this housing crisis.
Nearly 19,000 UAC were apprehended in March alone, a 101 percent increase from the border crisis during March of 2019. As the government scrambles to keep up with the surge brought on by President Biden’s policies, HHS has opened 13 new detention facilities since March 1.
One of the new EIS facilities, located 70 miles from the Canadian border at Starr Commonwealth campus in Albion, Michigan, will provide housing for children ages 12 and under with a potential capacity of 240 beds. The second will open at Pennsylvania International Academy in Erie, Pennsylvania, for children ages 12 and under with a potential capacity of 648 beds.
As the crisis at our border worsens, so does the bill. According to the Washington Post, HHS is spending $60 million a week to house unaccompanied minors, and that excludes the costs incurred by current “tent cities” or the additional 4,000 UAC currently held in Border Patrol custody. This is an additional $60 million per week on top of the $133.7 billion bill paid annually by American taxpayers to cover the costs of illegal aliens.
For the sake of comparison, the federal government spends nearly half that on homeless veterans, men and women who devoted their lives to protecting this country. The Biden administration is spending $36 million a week to house homeless veterans compared to the $60 million to house the flood of illegal alien minors President Biden has created.
As the country is still dealing with the long-lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent shutdowns, taxpayer dollars are especially crucial. Millions of Americans are still without work, and many have lost their jobs, their businesses and their homes. They cannot bear further fiscal burdens caused by the Biden administration’s reckless immigration policies. Instead of their tax dollars working for them and helping Americans get back to work, billions of dollars are going towards illegal aliens and unaccompanied illegal alien minors.