The lone Democratic member of Alabama's Congressional delegation said the state should "rise to the call" if asked to provide housing for thousands of immigrant children at Montgomery's Maxwell Air Force Base.
"This is a humanitarian crisis and I believe we have a moral obligation to protect and treat unaccompanied children with care and compassion," Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Birmingham, said. "Should Maxwell Air Force Base be selected as a site, we as Alabamians, as we have always done, must rise to the call of duty and follow the law."
Gov. Robert Bentley confirmed Thursday Maxwell was one of the sites being considered as a housing location for unaccompanied minors who have entered into the U.S. As many as 50,000 immigrant children who have crossed illegally into the U.S. since October are currently being housed at three military bases. The Pentagon has agreed to provide shelter for as many as 5,000 additional children at military bases, but said which installations will be selected has not been determined.
Bentley said the influx of children would end up taxing the state's educational and social services systems. Reps. Mike Rogers, R-Saks, and Rep. Martha Roby, R-Montgomery, agreed with the governor, saying "under no circumstances" should the children be sent to Alabama. The two pledged to add a provision to prohibit using military bases for immigrant housing in a special appropriations bill set to go before Congress.
'Humanitarian crisis'
Sewell said she supports the Obama administration's efforts to use military bases to house the children while they await an immigration hearing.
"This is a humanitarian crisis and I believe we have a moral obligation to protect and treat unaccompanied children with care and compassion," she said. "This humanitarian crisis at the border highlights the urgent need for comprehensive immigration reform and Congress needs to act now."
What the reform will entail remains up in the air. Democrats and Republicans remain far apart on how to handle the recent influx of unaccompanied minors, as well as any overall immigration reform. Last week, Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Haleyville, introduced legislation that would streamline the deportation process and close a loophole in a 2008 law that requires a hearing for all immigrants except those from Canada and Mexico.
More than 60,000 unaccompanied minors - mostly from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras - are expected to cross into the U.S. through the southeastern border by the end of the year. The Obama administration is seeking $3.7 billion to care for the children, provide additional immigration judges and beef up border protection.