Warner: Look elsewhere to house immigrant kids

FREDERIC J. FROMMER
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Mark Warner says the federal government should find another location to house unaccompanied immigrant minors from Central America, after a backlash against a plan for a temporary shelter in rural Lawrenceville, Virginia.

Warner, a Virginia Democrat, said in a statement Friday that the government “should look elsewhere” for an appropriate location. He says the failure of federal agencies to work with the community before choosing the campus of St. Paul’s College was wrong and disrespectful.

Warner’s statement follows a meeting Thursday in Lawrenceville, where federal officials apologized for missteps on the proposed temporary shelter.

Rep. Robert Hurt, R-Va., also has called on federal officials to abandon the plan.

Thousands of the minors from Central America have entered the U.S. in recent months — more than 47,000 this budget year.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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