ABILENE, TX — Abilene and San Angelo, Texas are under a national spotlight because their military bases are being considered to shelter migrant children.
Abilene Mayor, Anthony Williams, told KXVA the Feds are deciding whether Dyess AFB would be a suitable place to shelter migrant children. And he told us he learned about the possibility the same way our viewers did - through the news.
"We have no experience in something like this," said Mayor Williams of the Feds’ possible plan.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services confirmed with KXVA that they are looking to possibly use Dyess and Goodfellow AFB for ‘temporary shelters for unaccompanied alien children.’
The same type of shelters that are being used in Tornillo, Texas.
"As an Abilenean, as the Mayor of Abilene, I would love Abilene to be recognized but maybe not like this," said Mayor Williams.
Mayor Williams also told KXVA it’s hard to plan and prepare with the little information he has surrounding these tent cities.
"There has been no formal communication at all,” said Mayor Williams. “So we have not planned anything as of yet because of the ambiguity."
“Why are they coming here? Why are we separating families?” questioned Bill Enriquez, who serves on the city’s Hispanic Business Council and Hispanic Leadership Council.
Enriquez says he has no doubt if the children are brought to Dyess that they will be well taken care of, but his concern is the separation of families.
"I would rather die than for someone to take my children,” said Enriquez. “There is nothing worse than someone taking your kids."
Meanwhile, Mayor Williams says Abilene will work together if the children ever make it to Dyess.
“In the end, we will respond in a way that is consistent with the core values of Abilene, Texas,” said Mayor Williams.