Feds Give Conflicting Reports On Transfer Of Children To Fort Sill

Hundreds of young immigrants who are here illegally are set to arrive at Fort Sill today, but there are mixed reports about if they are already at the base.

Friday, June 13th 2014, 3:13 pm

By: News 9


Children from Central America, who officials said immigrated to the United States illegally, were scheduled to arrive at Fort Sill Friday.

However, on Friday afternoon, Health and Human Services (HHS) spokesperson Kenneth Wolfe said the children will arrive to the post on Saturday.

For a week, HHS has created confusion over the number of children set to temporarily live on the post. Officials originally said 600 to 1,200 children would arrive, but Wolfe told News 9 on Thursday that 1,400 beds are ready for children at Fort Sill.

6/12/2014 Related Story: Central American Orphans To Arrive At Fort Sill On Friday

On Friday, Wolfe said 135 children will be transferred to the post on Saturday. With so many conflicting reports, people in Comanche County told News 9 it's difficult to know what to believe.

"[Federal government officials] are not very good at letting us Americans know what's going on in our backyard," Lawton resident Kenn Lane said.

Lane is concerned that the confusion is sign of what's to come as Health and Human Services makes plans for the children's future. More than 47,000 children traveling by themselves have illegally crossed into the United States since October, according to government statistics reported by CBS News. For Cheryl Filak and many Oklahomans, it's emotional.

"I think the fact that we're going to take care of them is the first start, regardless of it being a solution," explained Filak.

6/12/2014 Related Story: Homeland Security Addresses Plan To House Undocumented Children

Federal officials have not said where the children will go after their time at Fort Sill. An exact time on when the children will arrive in Comanche County on Saturday was not provided to News 9 as of late Friday.

Fort Sill police continue to prevent reporters and cameras on post property to see where the children will be staying.

 

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