About 150 unaccompanied children found at the southern border of the U.S. have arrived in northwestern Pennsylvania and will be housed at a dormitory at the Pennsylvania International Academy.
The children landed Tuesday night at Erie International Airport and were screened by a physician, dentist and nurse, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said.
The Pennsylvania International Academy is designated as an emergency intake site by the department. Six children were assigned to each room in the 648-capacity dormitory, with more children expected in the future, the department said.
Erie resident Joe Giannamore, left, talks with Federal Protective Service police, with the Department of Homeland Security, at the Pennsylvania International Academy dorms, Tuesday, April 13, 2021, in Summit Township, Pa. After seeing news coverage of the pending arrival of approximately 150 refugee children from the U.S.-Mexico border, Giannamore said he rode about 50 minutes from his home near West 10th and Cascade streets to possibly witness the event. (Greg WohlfordErie Times-News via AP)
A department spokesperson told the Erie Times-News that the majority of the 146 children have relatives in the U.S. and the process will begin to try to connect them with those family members.
The U.S. government picked up nearly 19,000 children traveling alone across the Mexican border in March, the largest monthly number ever recorded, authorities said last week.
Children are released to sponsors in the U.S., usually parents or close relatives, while being allowed to pursue their cases in immigration courts.
Erie Benedictine Sister Pat Lupo, left, with other volunteers, carries packages of basic care items for the first group of migrant children, about 146 girls, at the Pennsylvania International Academy dorms, Tuesday, April 13, 2021, in Summit Township, Pa. Most of the items appeared to be clothing for the children, ages 7-12, arriving from the U.S-Mexico border. (Greg WohlfordErie Times-News via AP)
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie said a local volunteer effort will be led by Sister Linda Yankoski, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh-based Holy Family Institute, which also has received children from the border at its facilities in that city.
Volunteers likely will be used to help with laundry, meals, sorting clothing and toys and, for those with clearances, to interact with the children, the diocese said.
Governors of two states, Iowa and Nebraska, are refusing to house the children.
Three buses arrive at the Pennsylvania International Academy dorms Tuesday night, April 13, 2021, in Summit Township, Pa., carrying the a group of migrant children, 146 girls ages 7-12, detained at the U.S.-Mexico border. The girls were flown to Erie International Airport then transported to the facility to receive temporary shelter. (Greg WohlfordErie Times-News via AP)