Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      The Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families is overseeing the care and housing for immigrant minors at a recruit housing and training facility on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. (Courtesy Photo)140611-F-XX111-002
                        
                        
                        The Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families is overseeing the care and housing for immigrant minors at a recruit housing and training facility on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. (Courtesy Photo)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

BMT quarters temporarily housing immigrant minorsPublished June 18, 2014
                    
                    By Mike Joseph
                    
                    
                    Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Public Affairs
            **JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas (AFNS) --**The only sounds heard inside the Hackney Training Complex at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland eight months ago were usually the commands given by military training instructors and the responses returned by trainees in Air Force Basic Military Training.There has been silence at the Recruit Housing and Training Facility since the 321st Training Squadron relocated to Airman Training Complex No. 2 November 2013.For the next 90-120 plus days, however, there are new reverberations within the confines of the 215,000-square foot BMT facility. The sounds are mainly the voices of 62 Spanish-speaking case managers and of the children they are trying to assist.The former BMT facility was turned into a temporary shelter May 18 by the Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families. The shelter is for unaccompanied Central American minors who have been caught illegally crossing into the U.S.At HHS' request, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel directed U.S. Northern Command to provide a temporary facility at Lackland. U.S. Army North, USNORTHCOM's Army component command headquartered at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, has been coordinating the DOD support between HHS and Lackland.A recent increase of Central American children trying to cross the border led the Department of Homeland Security to declare a level-four alert in mid-May. By declaring the highest alert condition for agencies handling children who cross illegally, it allowed Homeland Security officials to call on emergency resources from other government agencies.During a June 5 tour of the shelter for local and national media given by HHS/ACF representatives, officials said 1,820 children ages 12 to 17 have been housed at Lackland since it opened while federal officials seek their relatives or sponsors.Officials also said 840 children have been released to vetted family members or sponsors through June 3. The facility can house up to 1,200 children at one time.Staffed by Baptist Child & Family Services Health and Human Services' Emergency Management Division, part of the BCFS system of health and human services non-profit organizations, children are served three meals and two snacks in the facility's dining hall.Also within the screened, fenced-in area are soccer areas, a basketball court, arts and crafts, basic English and math classes, and religious studies. Each child at the shelter has a cot and locker, and is issued new clothes upon arrival. Laundry access for staff and children is also on site.Ten security officers representing the Texas Department of Public Safety, San Antonio Police Department and the Bexar County Sherriff's Office work in shifts to keep the perimeter secure and inaccessible to unauthorized personnel.Children receive a medical screening, vaccination and treatment for lice or scabies before arriving at Lackland. They are also re-screened upon arrival and re-treated if necessary. There are 58 medical professionals who work at the shelter, including an emergency room pediatric physician and one on call.Paramedics are stationed at each wing in the shelter and a mobile medical unit is parked right outside the shelter. The adult staffers work 12-hour shifts and the child to adult ratio is 12-to-1.Children released to family members or sponsors are expected to appear at court proceedings. The court will decide whether the child stays in the U.S. or is eventually sent home.basic military training 



San Antonio 



Basic Training 



immigration Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                Kendall, Allvin, Saltzman urge modernization while warning Senate of delayed budgets
                    
                    Readout of Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall’s travel to the Philippines
                    
                    Air Force senior leaders visit Eielson AFB
                    
                    Air Force leaders focus on ACE during Kadena AB visit
                    
                    USAF senior leaders visit Mariana Islands on ACE tripInnovation
                F-16s arrive to be modified for autonomous testing
                    
                    AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalistsMAJCOM News
                Cope Tiger concludes in Thailand
                    
                    Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil