Congressmen: Fort Hood should not become daycare for immigrants, refugees

It's not for a lack of space that U.S. Reps. John Carter and Roger Williams are upset with a plan to house young illegal immigrants at Fort Hood.

Fort Hood is the world's largest military installation with 45,414 assigned soldiers and 8,900 civilian employees on 214,000 acres between Bell and Coryell counties 70 miles north of Austin.

Rather, the Central Texas Congressmen are concerned for the security issues such a plan would raise.


Reps. Carter (R-Texas 25) and Williams (R-Texas 31) sent a letter to President Barack Obama formally opposing the Obama Administration's plan to house children and teenagers who cross the Rio Grande without a parent or paperwork.

“President Obama needs to enforce our immigration laws and secure our border, not undermine our military at a time when our country is facing increased threats from radical Islamic terrorists," said Rep. Carter in a press release.

Williams called the plan a distraction from priorities, saying in a press release: "seeking support from military bases when their resources have already been stretched thin is unacceptable."

The press releases from each Congressional office follows the letter, the text of which is included below.

The letter and press releases are in response to notification from the Secretary of Defense office that a survey team will soon assess the possibility of using military bases, including Fort Hood, as locations for emergency shelters for undocumented immigrants. In 2014, the feds backed away from such a plan that designated Fort Sill (Oklahoma), Lackland Air Force Base (San Antonio), and Naval Base Ventura County (California) as sites for the shelters. Supporters claimed it was such a small number of immigrants that it doesn't represent a threat (so why the LARGEST MILITARY installation in the world?).

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families (ACF) maintains an FAQ on the situation, and even offers information on ways for families to adopt a small number of these unaccompanied children. According to the FAQ, the annual cost to care for unaccompanied illegal immigrant minors is $868 million (FY 2014).

Nothing was said of whether this plays into the President's plan to resettle at least 10,000 Syrian refugees in 2016.

The President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500 

Dear Mr. President, 

The Department of Defense (DOD) has received a formal request for assistance from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide temporary housing for unaccompanied alien children. We have been informed that a survey team will soon be investigating Fort Hood as a possible location for housing these illegal immigrants. 

We strongly urge your Administration not to house illegal immigrants on any military base. Furthermore, your Administration should commit to securing the border and focus your efforts on reuniting these children with their families in their native countries. 

While housing these unaccompanied minors may be a challenge for you, seeking support from military bases when their resources have already been stretched thin is unacceptable. Our country is at war with radical Islamic extremism at home and abroad, and our military assets must be used to train and prepare our troops, not house illegal aliens. Fort Hood has already suffered two shootings, including one terrorist attack. This military base is clearly a target and our country cannot afford to further burden it with the duties of running a safe house. 

As Members of Congress who represent Fort Hood, one of the largest military installations in the United States, we ask you to reaffirm that our military installations exist to project power around the world and to serve our men and women in uniform and their families – not house illegal immigrants. In addition, we ask that Secretary Jeh Johnson and Secretary Sylvia Burwell meet with us before any action is taken to use Fort Hood as a housing unit for illegal aliens. 

We respectfully request your immediate attention and quick response to this matter. 

Sincerely,

Rep. John Carter, Member of Congress
Rep. Roger Williams, Member of Congress 

CC: U.S. Department of Defense
        U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
        U.S. Department of Homeland Security

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CARTER TELLS OBAMA "NO" TO HOUSING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AT FORT HOOD 

12/17/15 

(WASHINGTON, DC) – Representatives John R. Carter (R-TX-31) sent a letter to President Obama, and the Secretaries of Defense, Health and Human Services and Homeland Security urging the Obama Administration not to provide temporary housing for unaccompanied alien children (UACs) at any U.S. military installation, including Fort Hood.
“It is outrageous that this Administration would even consider using our military installations to shelter illegal immigrants that have crossed our southern border,” said Rep. Carter. “President Obama needs to enforce our immigration laws and secure our border, not undermine our military at a time when our country is facing increased threats from radical Islamic terrorists. I urge him not to further burden our military by forcing them to babysit hundreds of illegal immigrants on their bases, especially when their sole focus should be fighting the war on terror and keeping America safe.”
The letter was sent in response to a notification from the Office of the Secretary of Defense that a survey team will assess the possibility of using military bases, including Fort Hood, to house unaccompanied minors who have crossed our border illegally. ... 

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Roger Williams to White House: Do not house illegal immigrants at Fort Hood 

Dec 16, 2015 Press Release 

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Roger Williams (R-Texas) today announced that he has sent a letter to President Barack Obama, the Department of Defense, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Homeland Security urging the Obama Administration not to provide temporary housing for unaccompanied alien children at any U.S. military installation, including Fort Hood.
“While housing these unaccompanied minors may be a challenge for you, seeking support from military bases when their resources have already been stretched thin is unacceptable,” wrote Williams.
The letter was sent in response to a notification from the Office of the Secretary of Defense that a survey team will assess the possibility of using Fort Hood to house unaccompanied minors. ...