Hawley: Brockport store won’t be used to house migrant children

BROCKPORT – A former Walmart store on Route 19 is no longer under consideration as a temporary shelter for migrant children who crossed the southern border illegally, State Assemblyman Steve Hawley said.

“The decision to not have the facility in our community is ultimately the right one,” Hawley said in a statement. “Brockport residents and upstate New York taxpayers can’t afford to be paying for the housing, healthcare and education of illegal immigrant children. It’s important that we do everything to help these children, but Brockport is ill equipped for such an undertaking long term.”

Hawley, State Sen. George Maziarz and U.S. Rep. Chris Collins also spoke against the proposal last week when the Department of Health and Human Services said the site was under consideration.

Brockport came under consideration after the Lexington Commerce Center in the town of Greece was ruled out as a possible housing site, Hawley said. Other locations under consideration have not yet been announced, he said.

Collins said Health and Human Resources also is considering a former convent in Clifton Park for some of the children.

The U.S. border has been overwhelmed with minors coming from Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Mexico, children fleeing gang violence and poverty.