Greensboro ‘Influx Care Facility’ set to Open
Editor’s note: North Carolina’s Republican Congressional Delegation recently signed a scathing letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In July of 2022, this newspaper first reported on a mega 5-year federal contract to lease a privately-owned facility, intended to house ‘unaccompanied alien children.’ The site, formerly known as the American Hebrew Academy, is a sprawling 100-acre campus, including 22-acre lake, with 31 buildings totaling over 400,000 square feet. An athletic center features two basketball courts, rock climbing walls, exercise gym and eight-lane pool.
Secretary Becerra:
We write today regarding the recent announcement that the Greensboro Influx Care Facility (ICF), formerly the American Hebrew Academy, will be operationalized effective March 15, 2024. Our offices were notified late afternoon on Friday, March 1, 2024, despite repeated, outstanding requests for answers about plans for operationalizing the facility. We are frustrated by this sudden announcement and the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) lack of transparency to Congress and the State of North Carolina related to this issue.
Since HHS began discussions to contract an ICF in North Carolina, we, along with other congressional colleagues, have consistently conducted oversight regarding this facility. On multiple occasions, we have requested information regarding the Greensboro ICF, including inquiries into site selection, contracts, services, and plans to ensure the well-being of the unaccompanied minors. We similarly have inquired about the impacts on the local community and surrounding areas.
While we have continued to push for information about this facility, we have consistently faced significant delays in responses to our inquiries. Congressman Hudson and Senator Tillis have both submitted Questions For Record (QFRs) concerning the Greensboro facility. Congressman Hudson submitted questions following your testimony before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on July 26, 2023, and Senator Tillis submitted questions following Director Robin Dunn Marcos’ testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Nov.1, 2023. As of today, these offices have not received a response to any of these QFRs.
This delay and lack of transparency have left us with continued concerns about whether the facility is fit for operation. For example, your office has announced its plans to issue a draft Request for Proposal (RFP) on March 7, 2024, for the primary services contract for the Greensboro ICF, with a final RFP expected in April 2024. We are very concerned to learn that you have decided to operationalize the Greensboro ICF while in the process of potentially changing who currently contracts for services at the facility.
Since President Biden took office, there have been approximately 7.2 million encounters with illegal migrants along our southern border. It is unacceptable that the Biden Administration’s failed immigration policies have resulted in a humanitarian crisis for migrants and the need for an ICF at all. We are particularly concerned about the need for a facility 2,000 miles away from the border in North Carolina. It is time for President Biden to take action to secure our border and address the crisis of unaccompanied minor migration with real solutions.
Again, we ask you and the Department to respond swiftly to our delegation’s QFRs, as well as provide greater detail of all current developments and future plans pertaining to the Greensboro ICF.
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