Islamic Society of Tampa Bay offers to host migrant children
The Islamic Society of Tampa Bay Area is offering to host migrant children currently separated from their parents on USA southern borders.
The group announced the offer at a news conference on Tuesday at noon.
The group says the humanitarian program will host all 2,300 children currently separated by President Trump’s border policy until they a reunified with their parents.
"It will be very much like the foster care system per say.. without the financial help from the government. this will be completely self-funded," said Ahmen Bedier who is president of United Voices of America.
The families have offered to host the children at no cost. The program would also pay for the children's transportation to the Tampa Bay area.
The faith leaders say they have received more than $1 million in pledges to pay for the children's transportation.
"Our ultimate goal is to protect the children," said Bedier.
He said the faith communities do not want to play the blame game when it comes to the crisis involving migrant children who have been separated from their parents.
"How did we get here? It doesn't matter," he said.
Bedier said he hopes the U.S. government will respond to the offer.
"We hope that the government responds well to our offer and takes us up on it."
Nyla Hazrajee is one of the people stepping forward to host. She said, she would want someone to do the same for her child.
"This is not supposed to happen and it's our job to make sure that it doesn't happen," she said.
He also said that local families who are interested in hosting migrant children can learn more by calling the Islamic Society of Tampa Bay at (813) 628-0007.
Source: ABC Action News & News Channel 8 Tampa