In response to surging numbers of unaccompanied minors and migrant families arriving at the southern border, DOD & HHS Migrant Housing Contract and the Department of Defense (DOD) have, at various points, collaborated through housing contracts to provide temporary shelters. These interagency efforts are designed to address humanitarian needs and legal obligations under U.S. immigration and asylum law.
Let’s explore what the DOD-HHS migrant housing contract involves, its purpose, historical context, and why it’s significant.
Why the HHS Needs Migrant Housing Support
DOD & HHS Migrant Housing Contract through its Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), is responsible for the care of unaccompanied migrant children—minors who arrive at the U.S. border without a legal guardian. Under U.S. law, these children must be transferred from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to HHS within 72 hours.
However, when arrival numbers spike, the HHS infrastructure becomes overwhelmed, and the department must look for additional space quickly. That’s where emergency housing contracts and federal partnerships come into play.
The Role of the Department of Defense (DOD)
DOD & HHS Migrant Housing Contract typically offers support by providing land, facilities, or logistics infrastructure to set up temporary housing for migrant children. These properties may include unused military bases or federally owned land capable of supporting large-scale shelter operations.
While the DOD does not directly oversee the care or custody of children, it often enters into agreements with HHS to allow temporary use of its facilities.
Examples of Past DOD-HHS Collaborations:
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2014: During a spike in unaccompanied minors from Central America, HHS used Lackland Air Force Base in Texas as a temporary housing facility.
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2019: Fort Sill in Oklahoma was designated for emergency shelter but later canceled after public backlash.
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2021: Amid another influx, the Biden administration used Fort Bliss near El Paso, TX, as an Emergency Intake Site for thousands of children.
What Is the Migrant Housing Contract?
The “migrant housing contract” refers to the formal arrangement between HHS and external contractors or other federal agencies (like DOD) to set up, operate, and manage temporary shelters.
These contracts typically involve:
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Construction and setup of shelter infrastructure
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Provision of food, clothing, and medical care
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Educational and recreational activities for children
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Staffing shelters with case managers, clinicians, and security personnel
Contractors may be nonprofits, private companies, or government logistics arms, depending on the urgency and scope of the housing need.
Public Concerns and Oversight
The use of military bases for housing migrant children often raises concerns about:
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Conditions in the shelters
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Access to legal and psychological support
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Oversight of contractors
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Transparency and accountability
For example, the Fort Bliss shelter in 2021 drew significant criticism due to whistleblower complaints alleging poor conditions, insufficient staff, and inadequate healthcare.
To address these concerns, HHS is legally required to conduct regular inspections, release incident reports, and ensure compliance with child welfare standards.
Funding and Budget Allocation
Emergency housing contracts are funded by Congressional appropriations and emergency relief packages. In high-volume years, HHS often receives supplemental funding to manage the surge in arrivals.
In recent years, billions of dollars have been directed toward improving border processing facilities, child welfare services, and temporary shelter expansion.
Who Are the Contractors?
A number of private companies and nonprofits have received multimillion-dollar contracts to operate shelters under the HHS umbrella. These include:
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BCFS Health and Human Services
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Endeavors
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Deployed Resources
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Southwest Key Programs
These entities are tasked with quickly building out services such as transportation, housing, mental health care, education, and family reunification support.
Transparency and FOIA Requests
Due to public interest, many documents relating to the DOD-HHS migrant housing contracts are accessible through FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) requests. Watchdog groups and journalists frequently file these requests to examine:
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Contract amounts
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Conditions reports
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Contractor performance records
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Facility inspection summaries
Future of Migrant Housing and Federal Coordination
As migration patterns continue to fluctuate due to political instability, climate change, and economic pressures in Latin America, the need for emergency migrant housing is unlikely to disappear.
There is ongoing debate in Washington about:
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Whether the military should be involved at all
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Improving the speed and quality of family reunification
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Investing in permanent shelter capacity instead of temporary contracts
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Increasing oversight of private contractors
Future housing solutions may prioritize more humane, smaller-scale facilities located in urban centers with better access to legal services and family sponsors.
Conclusion: Balancing Emergency Needs and Humanitarian Standards
The DOD-HHS migrant housing contract reflects a complex intersection of immigration policy, federal logistics, and child welfare. While these contracts provide necessary short-term relief during migration surges, they also highlight the ongoing challenges the U.S. faces in managing border operations in a humane and efficient manner.
As public scrutiny continues and new immigration reform proposals emerge, the structure and execution of these contracts will remain a key issue in national debate.