Mass. Gov Says Plan To House Unaccompanied Children Misunderstood
BOSTON (AP) — Gov. Deval Patrick says there remains considerable misunderstanding about the state's offer to shelter unaccompanied children from Central America crossing the nation's southern border.
Patrick's comments to reporters on Wednesday came after many town officials and residents in Bourne objected to children being housed at the Camp Edwards military base on Cape Cod. The governor has also offered Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee as a possible secure facility.
Patrick said if the state were to receive a request for housing from the federal government, the facility would operate for only about four months and the average stay for a child would be 30-45 days while they are processed under U.S. law.
Patrick also said they would not attend schools nor be brought into neighborhoods near the bases.
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