My 2 Cents: Unaccompanied Children Being Housed At Fort Sill

 My 2 Cents: Unaccompanied Children Being Housed At Fort Sill 

Monday, July 14th 2014, 10:55 pm

By: News 9


Tonight some of my thoughts after visiting Fort Sill last week.

They took us on a 45 minute tour through the dormitory where more than 1,000 unaccompanied minors, who crossed the border illegally, are now being housed.

First, I was impressed with how organized the operation was, and I don't think it was just a show for us, it was a military orderliness. The beds were neatly made, there were no messes to be seen, the entire building smelled clean.

I was surprised to learn there are 80 medical professionals at just this one facility, that's nearly one for every 12 children. The two people guiding us on our tour seemed nervous, even though there were no cameras or recording devices, only reporters taking notes.

It seemed oddly fitting that on our very restricted view of the place, the guides read from prepared scripts at each stop along the way, and if we asked a question they simply read the script again.

There was processing room, a room full of case managers sitting at folding tables with laptops and telephones, where they could process 12 kids at a time. Several of them were on the phone calling family or friends here, or calling their families back in Central America letting them know they'd made it to the U.S.

And honestly, despite the fact they crossed the border illegally, I'd be surprised if any of the kids I saw at Ft. Sill are returned to their home countries.

I'm Kelly Ogle and that's My 2 Cents.

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