Mark Warner: Feds should look elsewhere on immigrant facility

U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) released the following statement this morning on the proposed juvenile illegal immigrant detention facility in Lewrenceville.

“The federal government should look elsewhere for an appropriate location for this facility. The failure of federal agencies to work with the community before committing to locate this facility at St. Paul’s was fundamentally wrong and disrespectful to local leaders and the residents we represent. I strongly encourage the agencies involved to learn from their missteps in Lawrenceville and Brunswick County.”

When news of the signed contract between the federal government and St. Paul’s College was disclosed last week, Sen. Warner called upon the federal agencies involved to immediately dispatch key representatives to address concerns raised by local leaders. He also sent two key members of his staff to Lawrenceville to help facilitate those discussions throughout the week. Sen. Warner also insisted that federal officials schedule last night’s town meeting, in which it was clear there is overwhelming community opposition to the proposal.

In addition, Sen. Warner on Thursday called upon Secretary of State John Kerry to engage fully with his counterparts across Central America and in Mexico to emphasize the responsibilities of those nations in stopping the exodus of unaccompanied young people across America’s border with Mexico by working more aggressively to reduce violence and poverty in their own countries.