Congressman Ruiz shares inside look at housing center for separated border children

Congressman Raul Ruiz shared his reactions via Facebook after touring a housing facility for separated border children in Los Angeles on Saturday.

He described the site as a multi-building, low-income housing neighborhood secured with a gates in an unidentified area of the city. The non-profit facility has housed more than 3,000 children since it became contracted with the Office of Refugee Resettlement in 2012.

There are currently 39 children ages 6-14 being held at the site now. Congressman Ruiz said seven have already been reunited with families and three more will rejoin families next week.

“I agree it’s not right to separate these children from their parents to begin with. And just that separation alone already caused a lot of mental stress and toxic stress they’re going to have to deal with for the rest of their lives,” said Ruiz when responding to comments on his Facebook live post.

According to Ruiz, social workers and counselors are on site to assist the children. He said the children participate in group counseling and have telephone and internet access.

Congressman Ruiz said he saw some children had colored drawings of the Virgin Mary with words written “God pray for my family” above their beds.