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Unlikely alliance fighting pipeline in Texas Hill Country

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Unlikely alliance fighting pipeline in Texas Hill Country
News

News

Unlikely alliance fighting pipeline in Texas Hill Country

2019-10-19 22:25 Last Updated At：22:30

An unlikely alliance has formed in oil friendly Texas against one of the longest proposed new natural gas pipelines in the U.S.

Texas rural landowners, environmental groups, and conservative-leaning municipalities are banding together to oppose pipeline giant Kinder Morgan's 430-mile (690-kilometer), $2 billion natural gas expressway from the booming Permian Basin to the U.S. Gulf Coast. They say the proposed route will pose significant environmental and safety risks in the state's Hill Country.

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Andy Sansom walks on his property as he talks about a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would pass through his ranch in the Texas Hill Country near Stonewall, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

An unlikely alliance has formed in oil friendly Texas against one of the longest proposed new natural gas pipelines in the U.S.
Heath Frantzen uses a map to point out the site of a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would run through his property in the Texas Hill Country, where more than 600 white-tailed and trophy axis deer graze on a 260-acre ranch his family has owned for three generations, near Fredericksburg, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

The company is exercising eminent domain as a nasty legal battle threatens to jeopardize future pipelines in central Texas.
Pipes for a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would pass through the Texas Hill Country are staged near Blanco, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Pipes for a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would pass through the Texas Hill Country are staged near Blanco, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)
Heath Frantzen uses a map to point out the site of a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would run through his property in the Texas Hill Country, where more than 600 white-tailed and trophy axis deer graze on a 260-acre ranch his family has owned for three generations, near Fredericksburg, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Heath Frantzen uses a map to point out the site of a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would run through his property in the Texas Hill Country, where more than 600 white-tailed and trophy axis deer graze on a 260-acre ranch his family has owned for three generations, near Fredericksburg, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. (AP PhotoEric Gay)
Pipes for a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would pass through the Texas Hill Country are staged near Blanco, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Pipes for a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would pass through the Texas Hill Country are staged near Blanco, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)
Andy Sansom closes the gate to his property where a proposed new natural gas pipeline would pass through his ranch in the Texas Hill Country near Stonewall, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Andy Sansom closes the gate to his property where a proposed new natural gas pipeline would pass through his ranch in the Texas Hill Country near Stonewall, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)
Pipes for a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would pass through the Texas Hill Country are staged near Blanco, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Pipes for a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would pass through the Texas Hill Country are staged near Blanco, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)
Pipes for a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would pass through the Texas Hill Country are staged near Blanco, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Pipes for a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would pass through the Texas Hill Country are staged near Blanco, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)
Andy Sansom walks on his property where a proposed new natural gas pipeline would pass through his ranch in the Texas Hill Country near Stonewall, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Andy Sansom walks on his property where a proposed new natural gas pipeline would pass through his ranch in the Texas Hill Country near Stonewall, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)
Heath Frantzen walk on his property near the site of a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would run through his ranch in the Texas Hill Country, where more than 600 white-tailed and trophy axis deer graze on a 260-acres his family has owned for three generations, near Fredericksburg, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Heath Frantzen walk on his property near the site of a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would run through his ranch in the Texas Hill Country, where more than 600 white-tailed and trophy axis deer graze on a 260-acres his family has owned for three generations, near Fredericksburg, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. (AP PhotoEric Gay)
Heath Frantzen uses a map to point out the site of a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would run through his property in the Texas Hill Country, where more than 600 white-tailed and trophy axis deer graze on a 260-acre ranch his family has owned for three generations, near Fredericksburg, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Heath Frantzen uses a map to point out the site of a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would run through his property in the Texas Hill Country, where more than 600 white-tailed and trophy axis deer graze on a 260-acre ranch his family has owned for three generations, near Fredericksburg, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. (AP PhotoEric Gay)
Andy Sansom walks on his property as he talks about a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would pass through his ranch in the Texas Hill Country near Stonewall, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Andy Sansom walks on his property as he talks about a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would pass through his ranch in the Texas Hill Country near Stonewall, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)
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Andy Sansom walks on his property as he talks about a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would pass through his ranch in the Texas Hill Country near Stonewall, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

An unlikely alliance has formed in oil friendly Texas against one of the longest proposed new natural gas pipelines in the U.S.

Heath Frantzen uses a map to point out the site of a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would run through his property in the Texas Hill Country, where more than 600 white-tailed and trophy axis deer graze on a 260-acre ranch his family has owned for three generations, near Fredericksburg, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

The company is exercising eminent domain as a nasty legal battle threatens to jeopardize future pipelines in central Texas.

Pipes for a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would pass through the Texas Hill Country are staged near Blanco, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Pipes for a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would pass through the Texas Hill Country are staged near Blanco, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Heath Frantzen uses a map to point out the site of a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would run through his property in the Texas Hill Country, where more than 600 white-tailed and trophy axis deer graze on a 260-acre ranch his family has owned for three generations, near Fredericksburg, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Heath Frantzen uses a map to point out the site of a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would run through his property in the Texas Hill Country, where more than 600 white-tailed and trophy axis deer graze on a 260-acre ranch his family has owned for three generations, near Fredericksburg, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Pipes for a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would pass through the Texas Hill Country are staged near Blanco, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Pipes for a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would pass through the Texas Hill Country are staged near Blanco, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Andy Sansom closes the gate to his property where a proposed new natural gas pipeline would pass through his ranch in the Texas Hill Country near Stonewall, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Andy Sansom closes the gate to his property where a proposed new natural gas pipeline would pass through his ranch in the Texas Hill Country near Stonewall, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Pipes for a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would pass through the Texas Hill Country are staged near Blanco, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Pipes for a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would pass through the Texas Hill Country are staged near Blanco, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Pipes for a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would pass through the Texas Hill Country are staged near Blanco, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Pipes for a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would pass through the Texas Hill Country are staged near Blanco, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Andy Sansom walks on his property where a proposed new natural gas pipeline would pass through his ranch in the Texas Hill Country near Stonewall, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Andy Sansom walks on his property where a proposed new natural gas pipeline would pass through his ranch in the Texas Hill Country near Stonewall, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Heath Frantzen walk on his property near the site of a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would run through his ranch in the Texas Hill Country, where more than 600 white-tailed and trophy axis deer graze on a 260-acres his family has owned for three generations, near Fredericksburg, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Heath Frantzen walk on his property near the site of a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would run through his ranch in the Texas Hill Country, where more than 600 white-tailed and trophy axis deer graze on a 260-acres his family has owned for three generations, near Fredericksburg, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Heath Frantzen uses a map to point out the site of a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would run through his property in the Texas Hill Country, where more than 600 white-tailed and trophy axis deer graze on a 260-acre ranch his family has owned for three generations, near Fredericksburg, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Heath Frantzen uses a map to point out the site of a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would run through his property in the Texas Hill Country, where more than 600 white-tailed and trophy axis deer graze on a 260-acre ranch his family has owned for three generations, near Fredericksburg, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Andy Sansom walks on his property as he talks about a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would pass through his ranch in the Texas Hill Country near Stonewall, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Andy Sansom walks on his property as he talks about a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would pass through his ranch in the Texas Hill Country near Stonewall, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Kinder Morgan has long maintained that the pipeline will be safe. Spokesman Alan Fore says the company has already made 150 routing adjustments and isn't considering changing the pipeline's set path.

Andy Sansom walks on his property as he talks about a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would pass through his ranch in the Texas Hill Country near Stonewall, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Andy Sansom walks on his property as he talks about a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would pass through his ranch in the Texas Hill Country near Stonewall, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

The company is exercising eminent domain as a nasty legal battle threatens to jeopardize future pipelines in central Texas.

Heath Frantzen uses a map to point out the site of a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would run through his property in the Texas Hill Country, where more than 600 white-tailed and trophy axis deer graze on a 260-acre ranch his family has owned for three generations, near Fredericksburg, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Heath Frantzen uses a map to point out the site of a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would run through his property in the Texas Hill Country, where more than 600 white-tailed and trophy axis deer graze on a 260-acre ranch his family has owned for three generations, near Fredericksburg, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

 Pipes for a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would pass through the Texas Hill Country are staged near Blanco, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Pipes for a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would pass through the Texas Hill Country are staged near Blanco, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

 Heath Frantzen uses a map to point out the site of a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would run through his property in the Texas Hill Country, where more than 600 white-tailed and trophy axis deer graze on a 260-acre ranch his family has owned for three generations, near Fredericksburg, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Heath Frantzen uses a map to point out the site of a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would run through his property in the Texas Hill Country, where more than 600 white-tailed and trophy axis deer graze on a 260-acre ranch his family has owned for three generations, near Fredericksburg, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

 Pipes for a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would pass through the Texas Hill Country are staged near Blanco, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Pipes for a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would pass through the Texas Hill Country are staged near Blanco, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)
Andy Sansom closes the gate to his property where a proposed new natural gas pipeline would pass through his ranch in the Texas Hill Country near Stonewall, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Andy Sansom closes the gate to his property where a proposed new natural gas pipeline would pass through his ranch in the Texas Hill Country near Stonewall, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

 Pipes for a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would pass through the Texas Hill Country are staged near Blanco, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Pipes for a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would pass through the Texas Hill Country are staged near Blanco, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

 Pipes for a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would pass through the Texas Hill Country are staged near Blanco, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Pipes for a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would pass through the Texas Hill Country are staged near Blanco, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

 Andy Sansom walks on his property where a proposed new natural gas pipeline would pass through his ranch in the Texas Hill Country near Stonewall, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Andy Sansom walks on his property where a proposed new natural gas pipeline would pass through his ranch in the Texas Hill Country near Stonewall, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)
Heath Frantzen walk on his property near the site of a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would run through his ranch in the Texas Hill Country, where more than 600 white-tailed and trophy axis deer graze on a 260-acres his family has owned for three generations, near Fredericksburg, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Heath Frantzen walk on his property near the site of a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would run through his ranch in the Texas Hill Country, where more than 600 white-tailed and trophy axis deer graze on a 260-acres his family has owned for three generations, near Fredericksburg, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

 Heath Frantzen uses a map to point out the site of a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would run through his property in the Texas Hill Country, where more than 600 white-tailed and trophy axis deer graze on a 260-acre ranch his family has owned for three generations, near Fredericksburg, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Heath Frantzen uses a map to point out the site of a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would run through his property in the Texas Hill Country, where more than 600 white-tailed and trophy axis deer graze on a 260-acre ranch his family has owned for three generations, near Fredericksburg, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

 Andy Sansom walks on his property as he talks about a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would pass through his ranch in the Texas Hill Country near Stonewall, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Andy Sansom walks on his property as he talks about a proposed new natural gas pipeline that would pass through his ranch in the Texas Hill Country near Stonewall, Texas Friday, Aug. 2, 2019. A proposed pipeline is a 430-mile, $2 billion natural gas expressway that pipeline giant Kinder Morgan has mapped from the booming West Texas oil patch to Houston. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

BEIRUT (AP) — The United States has repatriated 11 of its citizens from sprawling camps in northeastern Syria that house tens of thousands of family members of suspected Islamic State militants, the U.S. State Department said Tuesday.

The repatriation was the largest Washington has carried out from the camps to date, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement. Five of the 11 citizens brought back were children, and one non-U.S. citizen child -- the 9-year-old sibling of one of the other children -- was also brought with them.

As part of the same operation, the U.S. facilitated the repatriation of 11 other camp residents, eight of them children, to Canada, the Netherlands and Finland, the statement said.

Although the pace of repatriations has picked up -- neighboring Iraq recently returned hundreds of its citizens -- many countries remain reluctant to bring back citizens from the al Hol and al Roj camps, which now hold about 30,000 people from more than 60 countries, most of them children.

The camps are run by local authorities affiliated with the U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. The SDF and its allies, including U.S.-led coalition forces, defeated the Islamic State group in Syria in 2019, ending its self-proclaimed Islamic “caliphate” that had ruled over a large swath of territory straddling Iraq and Syria.

Human rights groups have regularly reported on what they describe as inhumane living conditions and abuses in the camps and in detention centers where suspected IS members are housed.

“The only durable solution to the humanitarian and security crisis” in the facilities “is for countries to repatriate, rehabilitate, reintegrate, and where appropriate, ensure accountability for wrongdoing,” Blinken said in the statement.

FILE - Kurdish forces patrol al-Hol camp, which houses families of members of the Islamic State group in Hasakeh province, Syria, on April 19, 2023. The United States has repatriated 11 of its citizens from sprawling camps in northeastern Syria that house tens of thousands of family members of suspected Islamic State militants, the U.S. State Department said Tuesday May 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Baderkhan Ahmad, File)

FILE - Kurdish forces patrol al-Hol camp, which houses families of members of the Islamic State group in Hasakeh province, Syria, on April 19, 2023. The United States has repatriated 11 of its citizens from sprawling camps in northeastern Syria that house tens of thousands of family members of suspected Islamic State militants, the U.S. State Department said Tuesday May 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Baderkhan Ahmad, File)

 FILE - Women shop in the marketplace at al-Hol camp, home to families of Islamic State fighters, in Hasakeh province, Syria, on March 31, 2019. The United States has repatriated 11 of its citizens from sprawling camps in northeastern Syria that house tens of thousands of family members of suspected Islamic State militants, the U.S. State Department said Tuesday May 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo, File)

FILE - Women shop in the marketplace at al-Hol camp, home to families of Islamic State fighters, in Hasakeh province, Syria, on March 31, 2019. The United States has repatriated 11 of its citizens from sprawling camps in northeastern Syria that house tens of thousands of family members of suspected Islamic State militants, the U.S. State Department said Tuesday May 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo, File)
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