The Obama administration said it will open a new detention facility to house immigrant families caught crossing the border illegally. The spot for one has already been chosen in southern New Mexico.
The facility will be run by the Catholic Church and located in the town of Anthony, about half an hour outside of El Paso, Texas. It’s expected to house about 280 people.
The Department of Homeland Security said the administration is actively looking for more space to accommodate the recent surge of immigrant families crossing the border from Central America. The government currently operates only one such facility in Berks County, Pa. that has space for fewer than 100 people.
The department said about 39,000 adults with children have been apprehended at the border since October.
