TUSCOLA COUNTY, Mich. – The illegal immigration crisis, something we’ve been hearing about nationally is hitting close to home for the first time.
On Wednesday night, a FOX 17 News crew was in the town of Vassar, population 3,000, about 20 miles east of Saginaw.
Here is the issue– the federal government is trying to find places to house tens of thousands of unaccompanied children crossing the border from Mexico and Central America. And a facility Vassar could very well be an option.
Wolverine Human Services is a social service agency that helps children in need.
According to the facility website, the organization is currently in talks of receiving a contract to have 60 to 120 beds in its shelter used for temporary housing of unaccompanied teenagers aged 12 to 17.
Now the belief is those children would be illegal immigrants which hasn’t been stated outright.
Reportedly city leaders, the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Central Services Administration have all met with facility leaders to discuss a contract.
And tonight there is a meeting in Vassar aimed at laying it all out on the table. Speakers include the human service senior vice president from Wolverine as well as some local politicians.
Numerous protesters were at the meeting. FOX 17 spoke with one of the organizers who is adamantly against the proposal. She said, “This is our doorstep and when we first heard the news a lot of us were shocked. I felt shocked, but I said to myself you have to push that aside and you have to take action and forget about being shocked and that’s the mentality all of us planners have had.”
Whether you think this is even an issue or not; whether you’re for or against… the spotlight of a national issue is shining on Michigan and what happens here could have an impact on what happens elsewhere in the state.
