Paso Robles mayor responds to federal government’s plan to house 5,000 migrant children at Camp Roberts
PASO ROBLES, Calif. - Paso Robles Mayor Steve Martin released his thoughts regarding the federal government's plan to house about 5,000 migrant children at Camp Roberts in northern San Luis Obispo County.
While the plan is not yet official, federal officials have been in communication with San Luis Obispo county leaders this week.
“In a teleconference meeting with federal officials recently we were told as many as 5,000 unaccompanied migrant children could be processed at Camp Roberts,” said Mayor Martin. “I expressed concerns about the impacts on local traffic, medical services, educational services and housing. I was told that, if children were transported to Camp Roberts, they would not arrive all at one time, but in groups of a few hundred. I was also assured medical and educational services would be handled on-base and would not impact local agencies.”
Martin also expressed concerns about the needs of staff coming from out of the area. He told officials housing is already tight and that Paso Robles relies heavily on local hotels for tourism trade.
“I explained the housing situation clearly,” said Martin. “I insisted that, unlike similar operations in urban areas, this could have significant impacts on our community. I was assured I would be informed on plans as they develop.”
Martin said he also requested more information and assistance from state and federal representatives.
“I have reached out to Congressman Salud Carbajal, State Senator John Laird and State Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham for assistance minimizing impacts of this operation, should it be executed, and keeping the public informed.”
Camp Roberts is a California Army National Guard base just north of San Miguel. San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Dawn Ortiz-Legg told our newsroom that no county resources will be required.
"These are children in need," Ortiz-Legg said. "There is the capability of doing this properly where we're not impacting our local community and that we just need to work together to make sure that's how it's executed."
