HHS to Pentagon: Prepare to House Up to 20,000 Immigrant Kids

The Department of Health and Human Services asked the Pentagon to prepare to house up to 20,000 immigrant children on military bases Thursday. DHHS officials asked if there could be beds for kids “or occupancy as early as July through December 31, 2018.” Minority leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) addressed the idea in the Senate, asking, “Is it even feasible?” Pentagon officials have been examining the viability of housing children and families at bases in Texas and Arkansas, according to an official. The facilities would be run by DHHS personnel or contractors and would likely be similar to the Obama administration’s 2014 plan to house about 7,000 unaccompanied minors on military bases.