Baldwin County’s commissioners remained firm in their opposition to federal plans to possibly house unaccompanied immigrant children in Baldwin County this week, as they voted unanimously to send a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services outlining the reasons why the county would be ill suited for usage.

Baldwin County Commission Chairman Tucker Dorsey said he had a productive trip to Washington, D.C. several weeks ago to meet with Congressman Bradley Byrne and Senators Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions about the matter, but that nothing further had been communicated by the HHS.

Dorsey said he felt it necessary to send the letter to HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell to try to let her department know the county’s views on the possible immigrant relocation program.

“It’s firm, it’s direct and it reiterates questions we and the people of Baldwin County have with regards to the issue of the outlying fields,” Dorsey said.

The lack of communication has frustrated commissioners, especially Commissioner Skip Gruber, who said he has tried to be in constant contact with the department to find out Baldwin County’s status.

“I’ve been calling them every few days,” Gruber said. “I called them again last week and there’s still nothing going on from their end.”

The letter reads as follows:

“We are writing to express our concerns regarding a recent notice from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)’s Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to initiate a site assessment for the purpose of providing “temporary” shelter for the “apprehensions of Unaccompanied Children from the U.S. Southern Border” at the Naval Outlying Fields (NOLF) of Wolf and Silverhill in Baldwin County, Alabama.

The possibility of housing the illegal aliens have been met with widespread resistance across our community. It is particularly troubling that the average age of the illegal alien children is reported to be fourteen years old with nearly two thirds of the potential detainees being male. The notice referring to “unaccompanied children” is misleading; these are young men, not young children. Furthermore, we believe the federal government is vested with the authority to provide for the common defense, in this instance, it seems the current Administration has failed the people of Baldwin County by insinuating that potentially violent young men should be placed in our community without comment from the public.

The Baldwin County Commission questions the authenticity of the proposed site as “temporary” and see the measure as potentially being permanent housing for the illegal aliens. We believe the NOLF Silverhill and Wolf locations should be used for the purpose of keeping our nation safe and secure, rather than becoming a sanctuary for illegal aliens. We are concerned with a litany of other issues relating to the possible detentions and would very much appreciate an answer to the following inquiries: Do you plan on building new construction? If so, will that include critical infrastructure like sewage? Do you plan on building the appropriate fencing necessary for the detention facilities? Who will provide security for the facility? Will you provide security for the surrounding community? What constitutes “temporary” housing? Will you be conducting studies relating to the economic and environmental impacts of such an action?

The Baldwin County Commission has been working with the United States Navy to utilize the Silverhill Field as a staging ground for hurricane preparedness, response, and recovery. We are concerned that ORR’s proposed actions will interfere with these negotiations. Should the negotiations stall, our community could be left unprepared and unequipped in the event of major hurricane to deal with such a disaster. In light of our concerns, we ask that you carefully review and reconsider the implications of such an action for our community. We ask that you rescind the proposed action and perhaps make plans for a different community that would be more desirable and hospitable to the housing of illegal aliens.”

Commissioners said they hoped the letter will bring about a quicker response from the HHS and the Office of Refugee Relocation, and that the response will grant Baldwin County a reprieve from having the unaccompanied immigrants be moved here.

Late Wednesday afternoon, HHS Regional Director Pamela Roshell sent a response to the commissioners thanking them for the letter and said the HHS and ORR were still reviewing the case.

“ORR is continuing to evaluate the report from the assessment team, and the issues you raised are being considered as part of that evaluation process,” Roshell wrote. “I want to assure you that ORR is moving as quickly as possible to complete its assessment so that we can notify you, the other County Commissioners and county residents of its decision.  Given the concerns raised about the proximity of the Outlying Fields to the Gulf Coast, particularly during hurricane season, it is unlikely that ORR would use the facility during those months. Should there be a decision to move forward with the site, our Department will schedule a briefing for you and other community leaders at the earliest opportunity to update you on our plans and address the issues that you and other community leaders have raised.”