The shroud of secrecy that has covered the federal government’s settlement of tens of thousands of Unaccompanied Alien Children has created confusion and fear throughout the country. The sleepy little town of Oracle Arizona is one such victim of the fed’s secrecy.
On Tuesday, after many days of stonewalling, the federal government confirmed that the 40 UACs have not been placed in the Sycamore Boys Academy, a facility for delinquent youth. It is unclear if the delay is a result of the fact that the facility is currently only licensed by the state of Arizona for 40 residents.
In response to the AZDI inquiry, Kenneth Wolfe, Deputy director, Office of Public Affairs Administration for Children and Families, in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services wrote in an email: “For years, HHS has operated shelters throughout the United States for children who enter the country without their parent. These shelters are currently in many states, including Arizona. HHS officials are currently reviewing a proposal for Sycamore Canyon Academy to serve as one of these shelters.”
When asked, to confirm the fact that UACs had not yet been placed in the Academy, Wolfe issued a one word response; “Correct.”
Residents first learned of the feds’ decision to place the UACs at the Academy though Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu. While delivering a speech at a women’s NRA luncheon, Babeu told attendees of a tip he had received from a whistleblower in DHS about the plans for Oracle.
Oracle community leader; Bob Skiba, was in attendance and responded that like the rest of the country, the residents would take care of them. He said factiously, “We’ll feed them caviar and send them to school. We’ll take care of them,” said Skiba.
After the meeting, Skiba, began to take care of the residents of Oracle, as well. He contacted area residents, who then contacted other area residents and friends, who then decided to let their objection to the settlement be known. A protest was organized and people came from across the state to stand with the people of Oracle and against the federal overreach.
The press set about marginalizing the residents and dismissing their concerns. They dismissed Babeu as alarmist and accused him of trying to use the situation to gain media attention.
Less than a week later, a member of that same press tripped the alarm and exploited the fear of the residents when a reporter contacted residents late on Saturday night to notify them that buses had left the UACs at the Academy. The reporter went so far as to say they had seen the vans that delivered them.
Cyrus Miller, a community leader in Oracle told James T. Harris, in an interview on 104.1FM KQTH, on Monday that the residents don’t know what to think or who to believe. He said that the residents have not heard from any other their elected representatives. He said the residents were grateful to Babeu. “I know that he is looking out for us. His heart is with us.”
And contrary to the media’s portrayal, Miller explained to Harris that the community’s heart is with the kids. He said that because so many area mines have been closed, residents need jobs like the ones at the Academy, and are afraid to talk about the less-than-desirable conditions for the current residents of the Academy.
While residents seem to share concern for the kids, the issue has divided the community according to Miller. Because the media has focused on only the minors, who are part of the border surge and promoted the myth that the minors are fleeing from persecution, opponents are painted as anti-immigrant while others are portrayed as humanitarians.
However, residents familiar with the Academy question how humane it is for the feds to select Sycamore Academy. It appears to them that HHS is placing children as quickly as they can wherever they can. Reports of violence and harassment emanate from the Academy on a regular basis. It has been alleged that the Academy residents live in less-than-desirable conditions and Miller said that because the Academy provides much needed jobs in the community no one will come forward with what they know.
Miller said that the residents now live in fear and uncertainty. “We lock our doors now. We are setting up security around our homes now.”
The peace and tranquility in Oracle has been shattered and residents remain at the mercy of a federal government that seems to have little interest in their welfare or the migrants they claim to be aiding.
In light of Governor Brewer’s confirmation that HHS is not doing its due diligence, the situation in Oracle begins to make sense; the secrecy may simply mask the fed’s incompetence.