Number Of Immigrant Children Declines In Fort Sill

The number of undocumented children being housed here in Oklahoma has declined.

For the first time, the federal government now says it's seeing more undocumented children leave their custody than entering on a weekly basis.

New numbers from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) show 339 minors are still being housed at Fort Sill. That's the lowest population of children being housed there since it opened back on June 14.

Nationally, about 53,000 minors are still being housed in shelters, but officials say they've discharged about 49,000 others to a family member or sponsor here in the United States.

News of the decreased came following the approval of an extension to keep Fort Sill, along with shelters in Texas and California open through January of next year.

While the number of undocumented children has fallen, DHHS says the number of children making their way into the United States is still "too high."