Houston detention center for migrant children does not have proper permits, officials say

HOUSTON – There has been a lot of back and forth about when, and if, a controversial detention center for migrant children may open in Houston.

On Tuesday, after touring the facility in east Houston, state Sen. Sylvia Garcia tweeted out that lawyers from Southwest Key said that if they pass a state inspection, the facility could open as early as this week.

A representative from Southwest Key said it has all the necessary permits from the city of Houston and are now waiting on the next and final step in the process -- a license from the state.

However, officials with Houston Fire Department Health & Public Works Wednesday morning said Southwest Keys has not submitted and does not currently have the proper permits needed.

VIDEO: Officials discuss Houston detention center permits

There is a certificate of occupancy in place for residential use that was issued in early June, but that is for a hotel, motel or shelter, which isn't sufficient.

Southwest Key stated to city leaders that the intended use for the facility is for unaccompanied minors, which would require an institutional use certificate, and that's why the fire department and health department are now involved.

Southwest Key said there is no timetable for getting the permits or how long it will take to open if they are approved.

Public Works Director Carol Haddock said that the city requested clarification from Southwest Key on June 22 about the intended use for the space.

“We believed that what we were hearing and what we understood, that their intended use did not match the issued certificate of occupancy," Haddock said.

Southwest Key hosted a hiring event in Houston on Wednesday advertising jobs for case managers, youth care workers and cooks. The advertisement is vague about the location for which it is hiring.

Applicant Modesty Torres told Channel 2 that she was told if her application was approved she would be a youth care worker for Southwest Key, but she didn’t know where she would be employed, only that it is in Houston.

"The job is good, I’ll work for children," Torres said.

Southwest Key has not responded to KPRC's inquiries about the job hiring event.

Southwest Key employee Jeff Eller sent this response:

“We ere reviewing the comments by city officials and continue to talk with the state about licensing.”

The city of Houston issued the following statement:

"The 6-week-old permit provided to you by Southwest Key states that it is for a shelter.

"However that outmoded description of the use of the building -- a description provided to HFD by Southwest Key -- is not the appropriate classification for the intended use, according to Fire Chief Sam Pena.

"As he explains, a shelter is a place where children live with their guardians, can come and go as they please and do not have to be separated by gender. In contrast, SWK's publicly stated plan for the facility, under contractual obligation to the federal government, is to house children without their guardians, thus making them wards of the government, to detain the children without their parents, and to separate them by gender.

"This will require indoor design, equipment and other aspects that are for a detention facility -- not a shelter. It will require a fire safety permit as an institution, a detention center -- not a shelter.

"According to Pena, SWK will have to go back to step one and get a building permit that has to be issued by Public Works. Only after PW issues such a permit would the fire department be able to inspect the facility to decide if it will provide the appropriate fire safety and building occupancy permits. As mentioned previously, a Health Department permit would also be required for food service. All of these processes are on hold, according to Fire and PW."

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner continued his criticism of the facility with a pair of tweets late Tuesday night:


About the Authors:

Emmy-winning journalist. Inquisitive. Sparkle enthusiast. Coffee-fueled, with a dash of sass.