“We are saddened by this terrible loss, and immensely grateful for Mary’s contributions and every single person contributing to this effort serving unaccompanied children,” Becerra wrote. Story continues below advertisementThe Biden administration has spent weeks calling for federal volunteers to respond to the surge of unaccompanied children at the border. Story continues below advertisementHHS on Saturday also abruptly moved to close the Houston shelter and transfer children to other facilities. It was not immediately clear if there was a connection between Brodie-Henderson’s death on Friday and the decision to close the shelter. Becerra was pressed at a House appropriations committee hearing on Thursday about his department’s handling of the record surge of unaccompanied children at the border, which has taxed HHS facilities and prompted a rush to set up new shelters.

Source: Washington Post April 18, 2021 15:33 UTC