Northwest Received Few Children From Border Surge

PORTLAND, OR — Federal officials said a relatively small number of the unaccompanied immigrant children who have been flooding into the United States from Central America have been sent to Oregon, Washington state and Idaho over the past six months.  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said 50 immigrant children were released to sponsors in Oregon, 211 in Washington state, and 8 in Idaho between January 1st and July 7th.  Sponsors can include relatives, family friends or foster parents.

Prior to January, Oregon also received unaccompanied children into a foster care program run by Morrison Child and Family Services, a Portland-based nonprofit.  That program is now expanding.  Morrison received nearly $3.7 million this year from the federal government to house unaccompanied immigrant minors, according to an online government database.  In total, the nonprofit has received nearly $16.5 million in grants since 2010 for its residential services for unaccompanied children.

In a statement to The Associated Press, Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber said the state welcomes the children and that the border surge was a reminder of Congress’ failure to enact immigration reform.

About 57,000 minors, mostly from El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala, crossed into the U.S. since October.  More than 30,000 have been released to sponsors throughout the U.S.  California, Florida, New York and Texas were the states that received the most children in the past half year.  Those four states account for 46% of the children released to sponsors.

If you see local news happen, call the Horizon Broadcasting Group News Tip Hotline at 541-323-NEWS, or email us.

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Beaver Walk & Beaver Believers Screening

Beaver Natural History Walk & Restoration Site Tour, 4-5 pm Followed by a screening of The Beaver Believers and Q &A Hosted by Maureen Thompson, Beaver Works Program Manager and Kolleen Miller, Education Director for The Upper

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8th Annual Locavore Gala & Fundraiser

We invite you to be a part of something extraordinary – an evening that transcends the ordinary and celebrates the heart of our community. Central Oregon Locavore proudly presents its 8th Annual Gala and Fundraiser, a special