Florida has taken in more than 3,000 unaccompanied children who crossed the U.S. border since the beginning of this year. The recent surge in unaccompanied minors has raised concerns from the Florida Department of Health.
According to data released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as of July 7, Florida had received the third-highest number of unaccompanied children caught at the U.S. border. The data show Florida, Texas, New York and California account for nearly half of the more than 30,000 unaccompanied migrant children released to sponsors in the U.S. this year.
Last week Florida Surgeon General John Armstrong wrote a letter to the federal government after receiving unconfirmed reports saying dozens of children were about to be transported from the border to Miami by plane. Armstrong expressed concern the federal government was not providing adequate medical screenings at the border before transporting the children to other parts of the country.
Gov. Rick Scott’s press secretary, John Tupps, says the state has not received a response to Armstrong’s letter.