Hudson Calls Out HHS Secretary for Misleading North Carolinians on Greensboro Migrant Facility

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (R-NC) joined the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations to question Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra regarding the Greensboro Piedmont Academy Influx Care Facility and the housing of unaccompanied minors in North Carolina. 

On May 12, 2021, the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee held a hearing with Secretary Becerra. Rep. Hudson asked the Secretary if he was planning on sending unaccompanied minors to North Carolina to which he stated, “There is no plan that we have to show for children in North Carolina. We are always looking for sites where we can provide the type of safety and security that children need, and we have sites throughout the country, but there is no plan I can tell you right now to shelter children in North Carolina."

However, the Office of Refugee Resettlement conducted an initial site visit at the American Hebrew Academy in Greensboro on April 22, 2021 and a formal site assessment on May 12, 2021—the same day Secretary Becerra testified before the Health Subcommittee.

At yesterday’s hearing, Rep. Hudson called out Secretary Becerra for misleading North Carolinians regarding the status of the Greensboro facility: 

“Mr. Secretary, it sure sounds like there was a plan to shelter unaccompanied minors in North Carolina. So when I asked you on that day, how would you characterize your answer to me?,” said Rep. Hudson. “Were you intentionally lying to me and the people of North Carolina, or would you say you were carefully choosing your words to mislead me? Would you say you were being clever? What word would you use to describe your answer to me that day?” 

Earlier this month, Rep. Hudson expressed his concern regarding the HHS recent announcement that they would begin sending minors who crossed the border into Greensboro beginning in August.

Timeline of Correspondence:

• June 23, 2022: Rep Hudson and members of the North Carolina House delegation send letter to HHS regarding new reports of unaccompanied children being resettled in North Carolina. Read more here. 
• July 18, 2022: After no response, Rep. Hudson and members of the North Carolina House and Senate delegation send a follow up letter to HHS and Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Read more here. 
• September 1, 2022: DHS responded to the letter on July 18, 2022.
• January 26, 2023: HHS responded to the letter sent on June 23, 2022.
• February 17, 2023: HHS responded to the letter sent on July 18, 2022.

Watch today’s full Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigation hearing here.