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I am passing along some general information on the unaccompanied immigrant children from Central America and their recent, temporary placement at Right Of Passage, Sycamore Academy 7 miles outside of Oracle.
I have learned that Sycamore Academy has received approximately 20 youth refugees. These are children roughly between the ages of 12 to 16. About half of these children at Sycamore Academy have already benefited from the good care and treatment from Sycamore Academy and are ready for relocation within the next 10 days.
Staff at the Academy is currently processing paperwork to have these children reunited with family members in other parts of the country, until the Federal Government processes their cases through legal channels. Other children may be returned to their country of origin, via the Federal Government.
The Federal Government in their handling of these unaccompanied minors has placed these children in in facilities like Sycamore Academy, a licensed state facility whose mission is to provide therapeutic counseling and guidance to children. The objective of these temporary placements for unaccompanied minors is for quick reunification with family.
These refugee children that the Academy has been treating have no Central American gang affiliations. They have been examined by medical professionals in the U.S. and have been given a clean bill of health – they are not carrying any diseases or illnesses.
I have to give credit to all of those individuals who have been handling this unexpected influx of these minors from Central America. They have worked hard to treat these children with grace and dignity. I know the number of Oracle residents that have joined the “Have A Heart” campaign to support these children continues to grow , thanks to Kaz and Frank Pierson.
It is not an easy situation to see these kids being sent off from their homes to escape the horrible conditions that have plagued their countries. I will not chastise the parents who have sent their kids off in hopes of a better life. I have not walked a mile in their shoes, therefore I will not judge. I do know the number of unaccompanied minors crossing the border in Texas into the U.S. has dropped significantly and continues to fall.
Sincerely,
Pete Rios
Pinal County Supervisor District 1
Pinal County Supervisor Pete Rios
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