SAN ANGELO, TX -- All eyes will be on San Angelo and Goodfellow Air Force Base in about four weeks as the first of thousands of illegal immigrant teen detainees arrive here.
Since the Trump administration’s announcement that Goodfellow AFB would house the 13 to 17 year olds, local agencies and organizations have announced plans to assist the teens while they are housed on the base by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services while local citizens have been trying to find ways to provide assistance as well.
The teenagers who arrive at Goodfellow AFB may have traveled thousands of miles and crossed countless fences. They are travel savvy and some may be dangerous gang members. “People who study MS-13 agree that when young gang members travel from El Salvador to the U.S., they are driven by the same economic factors driving other Central American immigrants.” writes Hanna Dreier with Prorepublica.org.
Bishop Michael Sis of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Angelo says Catholic Charities and Catholic Churches stand ready to provide whatever assistance they can. “The Catholic Church of this area stands willing to assist with the spiritual needs of the residents, and we are also willing to offer any other volunteer charitable services that are allowed by the administrators of the detention center. Our clergy and volunteers are able to communicate with the residents in Spanish.”
On June 25, Bishop Sis participated in a prayer vigil on the steps of the Tom Green County Courthouse in San Angelo. The purpose of the vigil was to pray for those families who have been separated after entering the United States.
Tom Green County Judge Steve Floyd on June 26 said Goodfellow AFB will house 1,000 detainees initially expecting an increase to 7,500. Floyd says they will be 13 to 17-year-old unaccompanied males and females. They are expected to be at Goodfellow AFB from July 31 to December 18 with a possible extension of time.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will be responsible to house, feed, clothe, and educate them. The HHS plan includes one-on-one supervision for a maximum 7,500 detainees.
Outside of local religious groups’ offers of humanitarian assistance, dozens of organizations are soliciting donations to provide legal assistance for the immigrant teens. The Texas Tribune has an extended list of the liberal-leaning organizations.
While compassionate Texans are banding together to help provide for the basic needs of the immigrants, the reasons they have traveled across Central America to cross the U.S. border illegally are complex and muddled in politics. The media and elected Democrats blame the Trump administration for its zero tolerance policy towards illegal immigration at the southern border. Conservatives and President Trump blame Congress and a broken immigration policy that is decades old. The administrations of Central American countries also shoulder much of the blame for economic conditions which cause unaccompanied teens to flee to the United States where the generosity and compassion of the American people is the best in the world.
At least one thing is for sure; should immigrant teens be detained at Goodfellow AFB, Texans will respond with kindness and generosity until elected officials can find a way to work together long enough to reach a humanitarian solution to an inhumane problem.
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Scenario - A single parent has multiple unpaid traffic tickets. That situation can win you a few days in jail but, what about the children? Do they go to jail with you? Do you get excused for breaking the law because you have children? After all, the traffic fines haven't cost anyone their life and the average person won't even know what you did. You have children so, heaven forbid that you have to answer for breaking the law.
For those of you who are tired of arguing about the open border lets look at some hard facts.
For those who aren't afraid of the truth simply type in "Texas Gang Threat Assessment". This will give a brief account of Texas gangs and provide a link into the Texas DPS website. In the DPS website you will find that as of one year ago there are 100,000 gang members just in the state of Texas. These are not Irish, German or African gang members.
Other than this small problem and a couple of others, open borders are probably ok.
The first argument will be... Not all of these are illegal aliens! I'm sure many were born here but, what about their parents or grand parents. No, I'm not the least bit racist. I hate all gangs - Irish, German, African, Swedish, Asian, Polish or any you can name.
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PermalinkSince my house borders one of the areas that they are thinking about housing these "immigrants" in, I will make sure my doors are double locked and that I am "prepared". What does that mean? You figure it out.
I don't like this idea...not one bit. The Security Forces Squadron on GAFB are dreading this, I am sure. Although they will not be responsible for the "immigrants", they ARE responsible for the safety and security of GAFB. This will not end well.
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PermalinkNo, I will not help them, USA is wrong! Send them Back ASAP! What about tent city ? The people in San Angelo went crazy. We need to help our own first, we have children in Texas and other parts that NEED FOOD, WATER, CLOTHERS, HEALTH CARE, AND EDUCATION!!!!! THIS IS COMPLETE BULL !!!!! We also have
Vets that need medical, USA needs to come first not the illegals!!!! And I do not care what you call me.
When my g grandparents came over from Germany they had to learn English, work and go through everything the correct way. These newbies should have to do the same.
But our children, elderly and vets need to be first in line.
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PermalinkProve it. When did they get naturalized? Even when they do speak English, they get chastised for the heavy accent.
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PermalinkOne thing I dont understand is everyone getting upset and raising cain when the so call respectable adults are getting deported after being in the USA for 30 plus yrs. They know they were not legal here why did they not go thorough the process to become citizens? As far as the kiddos coming here. I agree that we should take care of our own first. {kids, seniors, vets etc}
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PermalinkLegal immigrants vs illegal invaders.
There is no such thing as an undocumented immigrant, period.
But then some people have trouble understanding which bathroom to use.
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PermalinkThe west was won by spilled blood. The next winner will not fire a single shot.
California already has a minority white population, Texas by 2022. It's gonna happen, regardless.
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PermalinkHealth and Human Services has already denied every offer of assistance. No donations will be accepted regardless of source. The only thing they'll take from us is our water. We are in Drought Level One as of August first.
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