WESTMINSTER, Md. (AP) — The federal government is exploring the possibility of housing immigrant children in a vacant Army Reserve building in Westminster, and local leaders aren’t pleased with the idea.
Westminster Mayor Kevin Utz says he got an email Thursday night informing him of the possibility. He says officials plan to tour the site to see if it can be used as a temporary shelter. The building has stood vacant for at least two decades.
Republican Rep. Andy Harris says he’ll try to block the move.
More than 57,000 unaccompanied children have crossed the U.S. border from Central America since October, fleeing violence and extortion in their home countries. The Obama administration has asked Congress for $3.7 billion in emergency funding to cope with the crisis.
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