FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, April 9, 2021

CONTACT:
MayorPress@sandiego.gov

SAN DIEGO Last night,inresponseto theevolvingneeds of unaccompanied children seeking asylum in the United States,U.S. Department of Health and Human services (HHS) transferred 300 teenage girls fromthe emergency intake site at the San Diego Convention Center toanother site at Fort Bliss in Texas.The transfercreates spacein San Diegofor an equal number of tender-age children(ages 5 to 12) and older siblings who have been in the custody ofU.S. Customs and Border Protection.The newarrivalswillbein San Diego on Friday.

The casework involving the girls moving to Texas will continue, with hopes of uniting them with verified familyor sponsorsas soon as possible.

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, County Board of Supervisors Chair Nathan Fletcher and Vice Chair Nora Vargas reacted with the following statement:

San Diego was chosen as the best placefor the most vulnerable younger children because of the highstandards of carethat our local service providers like South Bay Community Services and Rady Childrens Hospital have set. We are incredibly proud of the work they have done in such a short period of time. Regardless of the ages of the children arriving,San Diegowillgive them the compassionate support they need as theyawait the day theyre connected with the family membersor guardianswho will care for them here in the United States.

The San Diegoemergency intake sitestartedon March 27with a focus ongirls between the ages of 13and17.In addition, roughly100tender-agechildrenwith older sisters were taken in before the site reached its capacity of 1,450.The Convention Center will operate in this capacity until July 15.

The unaccompanied migrant children in San Diego are provided with comprehensive case management, medical and behavioral health care, educational and recreational activities, nutritious meals, hygiene,and legal assistance.

No children will be transported out of the San Diegosite if they have COVID-19.

To accommodate the new population, there will be an increase in the number of staff needed for supervision. HHS will adjust staffing through existing contracts and an increase infederal staff on site. There will also be adjustments made to the contracted services for education, mental health and food/nutritional services.

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