Trump admin's 'tent cities' cost more than keeping migrant kids with parents

[DonViejo]

Source: NBC News



Separating migrant kids from their parents will cost the administration more than placing them in permanent structures or keeping them with their parents.

by Julia Ainsley / Jun.20.2018 / 4:30 AM ET / Updated 7:45 AM ET

WASHINGTON — The cost of holding migrant children who have been separated from their parents in newly created "tent cities" is $775 per person per night, according to an official at the Department of Health and Human Services — far higher than the cost of keeping children with their parents in detention centers or holding them in more permanent buildings.

The reason for the high cost, the official and several former officials told NBC News, is that the sudden urgency to bring in security, air conditioning, medical workers and other government contractors far surpasses the cost for structures that are routinely staffed.

It costs $256 per person per night to hold children in permanent HHS facilities like Casa Padre in Brownsville, Texas. And keeping children with their parents in detention centers like the one run by U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement in Dilley, Texas cost $298 per resident per night, according to an agency estimate when it awarded the contract for the facility in 2014.

At those prices, the additional cost to operate a 400-bed temporary structure for one month at capacity would be more than $5 million. The average stay for separated kids is nearly two months.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/immigration-border-crisis/trump-admin-s-tent-cities-cost-more-keeping-migrant-kids-n884871

[Freethinker65]

1. He needs his scary masses of caged Hispanic males photo-op

Trump does not care what that will cost the US tax payers nor what psychological damage it does to the young infants and children.

He needs to use fear to rule.

[ck4829]

2. K&R, this should appeal to the "Sorry, but I vote with my wallet" Republican

[watoos]

3. I said this in another thread

but someone is making a lot of money off of this travesty. I would not doubt that Trump is even getting a cut.
Someone should follow the money.

I sit here today saddened at what Trump has done to our country. Not only is Trump destroying our democratic institutions, he is destroying our nation's morality. Politicians are not going to buck Trump, we need to trounce evil at the ballot box in November.

[lark]

6. Ding, ding!

The vendor was given a no-bid contract in secret and is one of drumpfs biggest campaign contributors. I am sure that drumpf is getting a cut, that is the only reason he cares so much, well that and pure racial hate. Notice he's not putting much thought into providing healthcare, it's because he hasn't found a way to personally profit, but is putting skin in the game with NK - paying Putin back bit by bit for electing him so he doesnt release the traitorous tapes he is holding over drumpfs' head and will also steal the mid-terms and 2020 for him.

[PSPS]

4. Since it's so much more sadistic, they think it's worth it. Cronies probably profiting too.

[samnsara]

5. im surprised he hasnt offered up trump property rooms at 800$ a night

[forgotmylogin]

7. I don't think this element has been pushed enough.

The rightwingers want fewer immigrants. When parents are separated and deported, the children may end up staying in the US for months, possibly forever instead of being sent back. They must be cared for ($TAX$DOLLAR$) and put into foster care ($TAX$DOLLAR$) and are positioned to petition for citizenship. This policy of shaving immigrant children out of every family unit and keeping them costs HARD WORKING 'MURICAN $TAX$DOLLAR$$$$$$$$.

You'd think at minimum the anti-immigration people would rather deport the entire family than fill accepting cities with child prisoners-of-politics.

[FSogol]

8. Maybe, but those Texas CEOs and Trumpy supporters can't profit if they stay with their parents.