Following Kelly-led inquiries, Biden administration provides documents connected to Erie migrant intake site

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- This week, following a 17-month inquiry by U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA), the U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services (HHS) provided Rep. Kelly and the House Judiciary Committee documents connected to the emergency intake site established in Erie, Pennsylvania in April 2021.

New documents obtained from HHS include the contract agreed to between the federal government and the site's owners, the Pennsylvania Academy Corporation (PAC). Information provided indicates the site, located in Summit Township, Erie County, was shut down and the migrant girls were moved due to a gas leak.

The documents raised more concerns than provided answers, however, and further transparency from HHS is needed to answer Rep. Kelly's additional questions and inform Erie-area residents about how their tax dollars have been spent on this matter.

"We have been seeking these documents from the Biden administration for nearly a year and a half. Although they are long overdue, this information is critical to learning more about just how the federal government facilitated the transport of unaccompanied migrant girls to Erie County and the potential cost of illegal immigration to taxpayers in my district," Kelly said. "I will continue to press Secretary Becerra for greater transparency and answers for the people of my district. I trust Secretary Becerra will provide this additional information in a timely manner."

Following this week's markup in the House Judiciary Committee, where these records were entered into the public record, Rep. Kelly submitted this letter to Secretary Becerra with the following questions related to the Erie intake site and the Biden administration's immigration plans. His questions include:

• What happened to the children after they were transferred out of the Erie Intake Site? Specifically, where were the children housed between April 23, 2021, and May 30, 2021?What happened to the children after that point?
• What happened to the children who were still in the US when they turned 18? Were they released into the country?
• Why was the Erie site chosen and does the Government still have an ongoing contract for the site?
• What was the total amount of taxpayer dollars paid out on the contract for the Erie Intake Site? The contract suggests it was between $1,000,000.00 and $10,000,000.00. Please provide the exact amount paid.
• Why didn’t the government inspect the site before entering into a million-dollar contract and shipping children there?

BACKGROUND

On Wednesday, the House Judiciary Committee marked up H.Res.1257, which Kelly introduced in July 2021. H.Res.1257 directs HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra to provide certain documents in the Secretary's possession to the House of Representatives relating to the establishment of an Emergency Intake Site in Erie, Pennsylvania, at the Pennsylvania International Academy, to house the influx of unaccompanied migrant children.

The site housed approximately 144 unaccompanied migrant girls for less than one week before federal officials moved the girls to another intake site, which remains undisclosed.

Since April 2021, Rep. Kelly has led four letters to Secretary Becerra seeking information related to the Erie intake site. Earlier this year, Kelly challenged Becerra to provide the information during a Ways & Means hearing. You can watch their exchange HERE.