DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad says he has empathy for kids from Central America who’ve crossed the U.S.-Mexico border alone — but he doesn’t want Iowa to host any of them.
Branstad said at a Monday news conference the state has not been contacted by the federal government about housing any immigrant children. He says the government’s focus should be on securing the borders.
Branstad and other governors met Sunday with Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Matthews Burwell as the Obama administration sought support from states that could host the children.
More than 57,000 children have crossed the border since October. Most are from Honduras, El Salvador or Guatemala.
