Reunify minors separated from their parents by Trump 0:40
(CNN) ––
The Joe Biden administration is racing to find space for the growing number of unaccompanied migrant families and children crossing the US-Mexico border alone.
Which may include opening more temporary facilities and providing federal funding for COVID-19 testing.
"We detain more children than we can release," a senior National Security official told CNN.
"There are many discussions about who to release to make room for these children."
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"We are not keeping up," said a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) official, referring to the agency's ability to care for unaccompanied migrant children.
The Border Patrol had more than 1,300 children in custody Tuesday waiting for HHS to locate them, a source with knowledge told CNN.
That number implies an increase of approximately 300 people from the previous day, according to the source.
HHS takes care of unaccompanied migrant children until they are located with a sponsor, such as a parent or relative, in the U.S. However, due to the pandemic and precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 , the department can only use slightly more than half of the beds it has for children.
That means the capacity is at 94%.
The Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, admitted Monday that the government faces a challenge on the southern border of the United States.
Precisely while trying to establish new policies and manage the flow of migrants.
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It's a stressful challenge.
That's why, frankly, we work as hard as we do.
Not only to address the urgency of the challenge, but also in developing the capacity to manage it, ”Mayorkas said from the White House.
He added that the Trump administration "destroyed" the US immigration system.
Biden's 3 Actions on U.S. Immigration 4:13
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials are the first to come into contact with children crossing the United States border alone.
After being taken into the custody of the Border Patrol, the unaccompanied minors are turned over to the Department of Health.
In January, CBP detained more than 5,800 unaccompanied children and nearly 7,500 families at the U.S.-Mexico border, according to the agency's most recent monthly data.
To expand capacity, CBP opened a "soft" structure in Donna, Texas, and is building another in Eagle Pass, Texas.
In addition, at least four other "soft" facilities are considered, although the locations have not been defined, according to a senior official with the Department of Homeland Security.
Additional Border Patrol agents have also been deployed to assist with processing.
"Unaccompanied children are increasing across the board," said a senior CBP official.
"All the waiting places are full, there is a constant delay," he added.
Funds for covid-19 testing
Throughout the pandemic, the United States has used a public health law that allows border officials to turn away migrants detained at the southern border.
Recently, Mexico stopped accepting the return of some families.
A new law in that country, along with social distancing in US detention centers, created a lack of space for migrants.
In that sense, this situation has forced CBP officials to release families in the United States.
In South Texas, the city of McAllen requested thousands of COVID-19 tests from the state for migrants who are released.
A local shelter, run by Catholic Charities, administers the tests.
The Biden administration is considering building on that to provide federal aid.
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One plan that is being discussed is granting funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to localities.
This with the aim of acquiring evidence of covid-19 and distributing it to released migrants, according to the senior National Security official.
CNN reached out to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for comment.
But that remains not the solution for unaccompanied children who cannot be released without a sponsor, such as a parent or family member.
Alternatives to accelerate the process of migrant children
To expedite the process, DHS is exploring locating Department of Health personnel at Border Patrol stations.
So that the placement process can begin immediately and determine if a child has a relative in the United States, Mayorkas explained Monday.
And he described the proposal as "reengineering" the process.
“It is an idea that is considered.
But there are a number of complexities that we want to make sure we are doing well, ”said the Health Department official.
A senior CBP official, who supports the proposed plan, said having Department of Health staff on site could help decrease the time lag in inter-agency communication.
And thus, speed up the process of moving children out of Border Patrol custody.
A similar process exists with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to facilitate the transfer of adults into the custody of this agency.
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There is also a separate effort to accelerate the investigation of children's sponsors.
The Health Department works on a data technology system that would update information in real time and connect with the FBI for background checks.
Which would reduce hours, if not days, this process without taking shortcuts, the HHS official said.
The system is expected to be implemented this summer.
However, the data is already being used to help discharge children more quickly, the official added.
But, until a child is turned over to a sponsor, the Health Department has yet to find space to place them in its network of shelters.
To accomplish that, the agency is adjusting its guidelines, in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The proposal is to make more beds available by relaxing some of the precautions implemented before the pandemic.
That includes wearing double masks, encouraging staff to get vaccinated, and adding more screening tests.
In addition to grouping children to allow more than one in a room and to put up more authorized facilities.
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“[We are] making sure that we are implementing good public health policy.
But, not in a way that goes overboard and then puts children at higher risk for covid-19 and other child welfare concerns at Border Patrol stations, ”the HHS official said.
When asked if another overflow facility is being considered, the official said no decisions have been made yet.
However, he added that "we are looking at all our options."
The Health Department recently opened a facility in Texas to accommodate newly arrived children.
“The flow across the border is increasing dramatically.
which will become a serious problem.
We are not there yet, but if the trends are indicators, we are not going in a good direction, "said the CBP official.
Covid-19Joe Bidenmigrant childrenBorder Patrol
