Delegation Questions Secret Immigrant Resettlement in NC
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the crisis at the southern border worsens, U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (R-NC) is leading Republican Members of North Carolina's Congressional Delegation in questioning the Biden administration about new reports of unaccompanied children (UACs) being resettled in North Carolina.
In a letter to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra and Office of Refugee Resettlement Acting Director Andrea Chapman, Rep. Hudson and Members ask about news that UACs will be resettled at the American Hebrew Academy in Greensboro, North Carolina beginning in July.
"Due to the failures of the Biden administration to secure our southern border, every state, including North Carolina, is now suffering from the impacts of the Biden border crisis," write the Members. "Given the effects of this crisis and decision to house UACs in our state, we demand answers to the following questions to help protect our constituents."
Sec. Becerra Previously Denied Reports
Last year, Rep. Hudson asked Sec. Becerra about plans to resettle minors in North Carolina. Sec. Becerra denied this and said, "there is no plan that we have to shelter children in North Carolina. We are always looking for sites to provide the type of safety and security that children need, and we have sites throughout the country, but there is no plan that we can tell you to shelter children in North Carolina."
The need to settle UACs across the country stems from unprecedented numbers of illegal migrants crossing the southern border. Since President Biden entered office, nearly 3 million illegal migrants have been encountered at the border, including 239,416 illegal crossings in May, the highest monthly total ever recorded. In addition, more than 5,300 pounds of the deadly opioid fentanyl have been seized at the border, enough to kill more than 2 billion people.
Since his first day in office, Biden stopped construction of the border wall, unveiled an immigration bill to grant amnesty for over 11 million illegal immigrants, issued a 100-day halt to deportations that was eventually halted by a federal judge, and has fought to end enforcement of Title 42 public health protections at the border. Just this week, 215 House Democrats once again blocked consideration of a bill forcing the Biden administration to enforce Title 42.
In their letter, Members ask:
- When did communication between the ORR and the American Hebrew Academy begin, in relation to using the Academy as a transition site for UACs?
- What plans do you have in place to ensure standards of humane treatment of UACs at the Academy? Specifically, what plans do you have to prevent overcrowding, violence, and outbreaks of disease from occurring?
- Are there other locations in North Carolina your office is in discussions with to house UACs?
- What actions are being taken by the Biden Administration to ensure the use of the Academy as a transitional campus does not pose a danger to North Carolina communities?
- How much money are the taxpayers paying to house UACs in North Carolina? How much money are taxpayers paying to house UACs across the nation?
Joining Rep. Hudson on the letter were Reps. Ted Budd, Virginia Foxx, David Rouzer, Madison Cawthorn, Greg Murphy, Patrick McHenry, and Dan Bishop. Read the entire letter here.
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