PHOENIX- As President Donald Trump halts the separation of migrant families, hundreds of them remain in detention facilities like one in south central Phoenix.
Larry Benedict says he did repair and quality control for the building that Southwest Key Programs uses to house children who are detained after crossing the border. His wife was the assistant property manager.
“We can go lay down in the grass right now, if we wanted to. We can walk around bare foot in the grass. These kids can’t," Benedict said. "Something that basic that we take for granted, they can’t do.”
According to him, there’s about four kids to every room.
“No toys in their room. They’re allowed few items of clothes and that’s it,” Benedict said.
What concerns him the most, however, is the desperation he’s seen in children inside the shelter.
“There’s many of them that have not acclimated to this, and they’re punching out walls, they’re kicking in walls because they just want to leave,” Benedict said.
Via email a spokesperson for Southwest Key Programs says they’re unable to answer questions due to the safety and security of the children. However with about 750 minors believed to be housed in the Phoenix facility, Benedict assures the majority of them will remain there until they age-out.
“That means kids, they’re not going to the movie theaters. I mean stuff that we take advantage of in regular elementary school and high school. They don’t leave that facility."
Benedict did say the children do live in a clean area and they get class time, but for the sake of their future, he wants a better quality of life for them.