LAWRENCEVILLE, Va. (WTVR) — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed that federal officials are tossing out plans to shelter hundreds of illegal immigrant children in Lawrenceville.
A health department spokesman issued a statement Friday:
"We have heard the concerns of many of the residents and leaders of Lawrenceville about the proposal to temporarily care for unaccompanied children at the now-closed Saint Paul's College. We have taken this proposal off the table and will move on quickly to identify other sites to temporarily house these vulnerable children."
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services held a public forum about housing the Central American children on the vacant campus of St. Paul’s College. Hundreds packed into the Brunswick County High School auditorium to discuss the potential plan.
For the most part, the public was not interested in asking questions as much as they were expressing their overwhelming opposition to the plan. Government officials told CBS 6 that the opposition was heard loud and clear and that the plan would not progress without the public’s support.
Many are already speaking out about the decision. Senator Mark Warner said that the DHHS made the right decision.
"Collaboration and local support is absolutely key for the success of a project like this."
Stay with WTVR.com and watch CBS 6 News for updates on this story.
