Fairfax County Board Chair Against Unaccompanied Kids Shelter

FAIRFAX, VA —The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors chair has spoken out against the federal government's search for space to house unaccompanied immigrant children.

On Monday, Aug. 12, Chairman Sharon Bulova sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, published by the Washington Post. The letter criticized the history of separations of immigrant families at the border and says "Fairfax County wants no part in this heartless practice."

"While the children who would be housed in these facilities may have come to the U.S. unaccompanied, it is clear that these separation practices, intended to deter families from seeking entry, contribute to and exacerbate the situation," the letter goes on to say.

Bulova joins other Northern Virginia leaders in opposing locating the permanent shelter for unaccompanied kids in their jurisdictions. Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson wrote to HHS in opposition of locating the shelter in the city, citing "the Federal Government's current treatment of immigrant families." In a statement to WAMU, Arlington County Chair Christian Dorsey criticized federal policy while adding the county "has no available space or facilities."

Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chair Phyllis Randall said in a WAMU interview the shelter shouldn't be in Loudoun County "because it’s not good for children." Prince William County Board Chair Corey Stewart, who campaigned for U.S. Senate in 2018 against illegal immigration, told WAMU the county would be "very concerned about the federal government trying to force a permanent shelter" there.

On Aug. 2, the General Services Administration posted the notice seeking space for the permanent shelter on behalf of the HHS' Office of Refugee Resettlement, which would run the shelter. The space would house about 440 unaccompanied children. The estimated date for occupancy of the permanent shelter is July 2020.

According to the notice, the federal government is considering several areas of Northern Virginia for the shelter: Arlington County, Fairfax County, Loudoun County and Prince William County, and the cities and towns of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Herndon, Vienna and Manassas. The federal government is also eyeing Florida and California for potential permanent shelter locations.