3 Arkansas lawmakers oppose plan for immigrants' shelter

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     (AP) – Three members of Arkansas’ congressional delegation are

opposing a proposal to convert an abandoned facility near Hot Springs as a

shelter for unaccompanied immigrant children.

     The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services visited the former Ouachita

Job Corps Center in Royal earlier this month to assess whether it can be used as

a secure facility to temporarily house unaccompanied minors age 17 or younger.

The Dec. 19 tour prompted opposition from Arkansas U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman,

whose district includes Garland County, and U.S. Sens. John Boozman and Tom

Cotton.

     Agency spokesman Toby Merkt tells the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that the

government is still determining whether the site is “suitable” to serve as a

shelter for children in the future. Merkt did not provide a timeline for the

decision.




   

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