San Diego and Dallas Convention Centers Serve as Temporary Shelters for Migrant Children

March 25, 2021

The San Diego Convention Center and the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas are lending a hand to help the humanitarian crisis at the southwest U.S. border by providing temporary housing for unaccompanied migrant children seeking asylum. The creation of such emergency intake sites is designed to shift the minors — most of whom herald from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador — more quickly out of U.S. Border Patrol custody while helping to alleviate overcrowding at border holding facilities. 

San Diego Convention Center

On March 22, the City and County of San Diego announced that they will make the SDCC available for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to use as a temporary shelter for minors up to age 17. Many details remain unknown, including how many children will be sheltered at the venue and when they will arrive.

Said San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and San Diego County Board of Supervisors’ Chair Nathan Fletcher in an official statement:

“When HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra requested our help to house some of the unaccompanied minors at the border, we knew it was the right thing to do. Over the weekend, we agreed to open our convention center to the federal government for use as a temporary shelter. The city and county will support this federally funded effort by providing vital services to these vulnerable children who came to our country seeking safety. We are working closely with our federal partners to finalize the details for preparing to receive these young people and provide them with care, compassion and a safe space to transition while they are reunited with families or sponsors.”

Once operational, the site will be used for approximately 90 days, with the average stay for each child averaging 30-35 days. During this time, the kids will be provided with food, medical care, a place to sleep and showers. A safe and secure recreation area will also be created on the exterior of the facility. The children will not be permitted to leave the facility until they are reunified with family members in the U.S. or connected with other sponsors.

The Health and Human Services Refugee Resettlement Program will fund the temporary shelter, and additional partners include the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Center for Disease Control and the SDCC. 

According to Rip Rippetoe, SDCC president and CEO, the venue will serve in this capacity until July, with detailed plans in place to ensure a smooth transition to event activity in August.

“In response to this call to action from government leaders, our San Diego Convention Center team will extend our spirit of service and hospitality to this emergency use as a temporary shelter for unaccompanied children seeking asylum,” Rippetoe said. “Though we’re eager to return to our primary role as a public gathering place and economic driver for our region, I am proud of the professionalism and expertise of our team as we rise to meet each new challenge during the pandemic.”

He added, “Together with our partners, we will provide a comfortable and humane environment for the children while they are reunited with their families.” 

The effort comes as the City of San Diego, County of San Diego, Regional Task Force on the Homeless and San Diego Housing Commission has wound down Operation Shelter to Home, a successful program hosted at the SDCC to protect people experiencing homelessness from COVID-19. 

Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center

On March 17, the KBHCC in downtown Dallas began taking in unaccompanied teenage boys into what is being called a “decompression center.” It is estimated that there are now more than 2,000 migrant youth staying at the convention center. 

KBHCC officials referred all TSNN questions to HHS, which did not respond to requests for comment by press time.  

According to news reports, the convention center is being leased for $8 million by the federal government for 75-90 days for the effort, with FEMA and HHS responsible for all food, security, cleaning and medical care costs at the facility.  

Up to 3,000 minors may be housed at the temporary location. The teens could remain at the facility for 30-45 days while officials work to locate family members as sponsors, according to an HHS statement. While staying with family, the teens will wait for asylum proceedings.

According to a recent AP news report, U.S. authorities encountered immigrant children traveling alone 9,457 times in February, nearly double the number in January and the highest since May 2019, when the figure almost reached 12,000 during the peak of a surge during the Trump presidency.

“Collective action is necessary, and we will do our best to support this humanitarian effort,” said Dallas City Manager T.C. Broadnax in a statement.

 

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Partner Voices
Less than six months ago, Lisa Messina joined the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) as the first-ever chief sales officer after leading the sales team at Caesars Entertainment. A 12-year Las Vegas resident, Messina is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and serves on MPI International’s board of directors. TSNN had a chance to catch up with this dynamic leader and talk to her about her vision for the new role, current shifts in the trade show industry, creating more diversity and equity within the organization, and advice to future female leaders. Lisa Messina, Chief Sales Officer, LVCVA With Las Vegas becoming The Greatest Arena on EarthTM, what are some of the things you’re most excited about in your role? Our team was at The Big Game’s handoff ceremony earlier this month, and I couldn’t help but think, “We’re going to crush it next year!”  These high-profile events and venues not only drive excitement, but also provide unmatched opportunities for event planners. Allegiant Stadium hosts events from 10 to 65,000 people and offers on-field experiences. Formula 1 Grand Prix will take place in Las Vegas in November, after the year-one F1 race, the four-story paddock building will be available for buyouts and will also offer daily ride-along experiences that will be available for groups. And, of course, the MSG Sphere officially announced that it will open in September, ahead of schedule, with a U2 residency. It’s going to be the most technologically advanced venue as far as lighting, sound, feel, and even scent, and it will be available for buyouts and next-level sponsorships inside and outside. There’s no ceiling to what you can do when you’re doing events in Las Vegas.  Allegiant Stadium As the trade show and convention business returns to the pre-pandemic levels, what shifts are you noticing and how do you think they will impact the industry going forward? Our trade show organizers are very focused on driving customer experience. Most of our organizers are reporting stronger exhibitor numbers and increased numbers of new exhibitors, with trade shows proving to be almost or above 2019 levels. Now our organizers are really doubling down on driving attendance and focusing on the data to provide that individualized, customized experience to help attendees meet their goals and get the best value. Some companies continue to be cautiously optimistic with their organizational spend when it comes to sending attendees, but I think it will continue to improve. As the U.S. Travel Association makes more progress on the U.S. visa situation, we also expect a growing influx of international attendees. What are some innovative ways the LVCVA helps trade show and convention organizers deliver the most value for their events? We focus on customer experience in the same way that trade show organizers are thinking about it. We got rave reviews with the West Hall Expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), so over the next two years, we will be renovating the North and the Central halls, which will include not just the same look and feel, but also the digital experiences that can be leveraged for branding and sponsorship opportunities.  Vegas Loop, the underground transportation system designed by The Boring Company, is also a way we have enhanced the customer experience. Vegas Loop at the LVCC has transported more than 900,000 convention attendees across the campus since its 2021 launch. Last summer, Resorts World and The Boring Company opened the first resort stop at the Resorts World Las Vegas , with plans to expand throughout the resort corridor, including downtown Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium and Harry Reid International Airport. The LVCVA also purchased the Las Vegas Monorail in 2020, the 3.9-mile-long elevated transportation system that connects eight resorts directly to the convention center campus. This is the only rail system in the world that integrates fares directly into show badges and registration. For trade show organizers, these transportation options mean saving time, money and effort when it comes to moving groups from the hotels to LVCC and around the city. Also, the more we can focus on building the infrastructure around the convention center, the more it supports the customer experience and ultimately supports our trade show organizers. Scheduled to debut in Q4, Fontainebleau Las Vegas will offer 3,700 hotel rooms and 550,000 square feet of meeting and convention space next to LVCC.  What are some of the plans for advancing DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) within your organization? We’re currently partnering with instead of working with a leading consulting firm, to lay the foundation and create a solid DEI plan and be the leader when it comes to DEI initiatives. The heart of that journey with the consulting firm is also talking to our customers about their strategic approaches to DEI and driving innovation in this space.  What are your favorite ways to recharge? My husband and I have an RV and we’re outdoorsy people. So, while we have over 150,000 world-class hotel rooms and renowned restaurants right outside our doorstep, one of my favorite things to do is get out to Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, and Lake Mead. Five of the top national parks are within a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, so there’s a lot you can do. We love balancing the energy of Las Vegas with nature, and we’re noticing that a lot of attendees add activities off the Strip when they come here.  Valley of Fire What advice would you give to women following leadership paths in destination marketing? I think it’s about being laser-focused on what you want to accomplish; building a team around you that lifts you and helps you achieve your goals; and being humble and realizing that you do it as a group. No one gets this done alone. Thankfully, there are a lot of women in leadership in this organization, in our customers’ organizations, and in this city that we can be really proud of. We’re a formidable force that is making things happen.   This interview has been edited and condensed. This article is exclusively sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. For more information, visit HERE.