State and federal leaders express concerns over proposal to house immigrant children in Mississippi

TUNICA COUNTY, Miss. (WLBT) - This report explains concerns being raised over the potential of immigrant children being moved to Mississippi. There’s nothing set in stone and if some officials get their way, it won’t turn into anything more than a proposal.

Will immigrant children be housed at a now-shuttered Tunica County casino hotel? That North Mississippi issue is drawing the attention of statewide and federal officials.

“This has moved from rumor to this is real,” said Secretary of State Michael Watson. “So, we are doing the research now to make sure who’s doing what and how we could stop this.”

Secretary of State Michael Watson is applauding Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith for her letter to the Department of Health and Human Services.

In that, she expresses concerns about the possibility of allowing a contract to be awarded for the Mississippi site. Among those concerns, she references the cost that would be passed onto local and state governments.

Watson agrees.

“I’ve had some people ask about...well these are children,” he said. “That’s right. I would love them, too. And that’s our job. That’s what I’m called to do as a Christian. That’s not the government’s job. We can’t force the government to do something that individuals may choose to do. But that’s not the government’s job. And we’re gonna do all we can to make sure Mississippi doesn’t have to pay for that.”

Patricia Ice is the Legal Project director of the Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance.

“These young people need a safe place,” she noted. “The young people coming from abroad need a safe place. And so Mississippi is good in that it’s in the rural area, in that it’s kind of low key.”

But she worries that location could be a double-edged sword.

“I have a concern, in that this program would be out in a very rural area,” said Ice. “So, I have a concern about the hospitals, etc. However, I heard that when they built the casinos, they added that they had a lot of services out there. But I don’t know what’s going on there now because the casino is closed. But I think that the young people that come through these programs can add a lot to the community.”

Secretary Michael Watson says his office plans to follow Hyde-Smith’s office and send a letter to HHS.

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