Los Angeles, nonprofits asked to shelter immigrant children

By Rick Orlov, Los Angeles Daily News

Posted: 07/16/14, 3:43 PM PDT | Updated: 3 hrs ago
4 Comments

Los Angeles is working with federal officials on providing temporary shelter for the thousands of immigrant children detained while crossing the southern U.S. border even as anti-*immigrant groups are planning protests.

At Politico magazine’s “What Works: Los Angeles” forum on Tuesday, Mayor Eric Garcetti said his office was contacted by the federal Department of Health and Human Services last week to partner on spurring nonprofits to provide housing and services for the displaced children.


No city funds would be used and all services would be provided by the nonprofits, Garcetti said, reiterating that Los Angeles should provide aid since 62 percent of its residents are immigrants. “These are children,” he reminded.

“As a parent, there is nothing more important to me. Before you get partisan, before you tell me where you are on immigration, these are children.

“Who are we as Americans if we don’t step forward first and say, These kids who are isolated, alone ... let’s get them someplace safe and secure,” Garcetti said.

After speaking with the federal government, the mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs convened a meeting of 50 local organizations last week to discuss what they can do to assist, Garcetti spokeswoman Vicki Curry said, adding, “Health and Human Services will partner with those groups on identifying temporary shelters and providing services.”

The increase in children crossing into the United States from Central America has drawn wide protests in cities throughout California and Arizona, though some municipalities, such as Bell, have said they would like to work with The Salvation Army to find shelter.

Various anti-immigrant groups have mobilized nationwide and are planning a series of protests starting Friday at both high-profile spots such as state Capitols and more grass-roots locations like freeway overpasses and retail parking lots.

Locally, a protest is planned by the Americans for Legal Immigration for Friday in Arlington Heights, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., at a pedestrian overpass at 4th Avenue and 21st Street. On Saturday, gatherings are scheduled for 11 a.m.-4 p.m. in Burbank, on the overpass at East Burbank Boulevard and the 5 Freeway; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. in Malibu at Pacific Coast Highway and Topanga Canyon Boulevard; and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. in Los Angeles, at the pedestrian bridge at 2321 4th and Arlington avenues.


William Gheen, president of Americans for Legal Immigration, said the family of Los Angeles High School running back Jamiel Shaw, who was killed by a gang member in the country illegally, will be on hand to lend support.

ALI was involved in the protests in Murietta and Oracle, Ariz., where buses containing immigrant children were turned back. “This is a grass-roots protest,” Gheen said. “There is no one big demonstration, but they are going to be everywhere.”

Reach the author at rick.orlov@dailynews

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