Plans to house migrant children at Camp Roberts placed on hold

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY, Calif. - Plans to house migrant children at Camp Roberts have been put on indefinite hold.

Monterey County Congressman Jimmy Panetta's office says the Department of Health and Human Services notified him of the decision Wednesday. Rep. Salud Carbajal's office later confirmed that announcement to our newsroom.

Camp Roberts was put on an indefinite hold because the number of children in HHS care has dropped dramatically.

At one point, the military base, which is on the border of San Luis Obispo and Monterey counties, was considered to house as many as 5,000 migrant children. Central Coast advocates voiced their concerns for Camp Roberts as a possible location, fearing the military base did not have suitable conditions for young children. The mayor of Paso Robles also said he had concerns about the impact on local traffic and tourism.

Panetta's office says Health and Human Services is looking at other facilities right now, and none are on the central coast.