Nearly 600 migrant children who were housed at Long Beach shelter reunited with family, sponsors

LONG BEACH, Calif. (CNS) -- Nearly 600 migrant children who were housed at an intake center at the Long Beach Convention Center have been reunited with family or sponsors in the United States.

The release of the 584 children leaves 152 migrant children remaining in the shelter, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which operates the site, reported Friday.

"Let's get every child reunified with family,'" Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia said in a tweet that echoed the figures provided by HHS.

Xavier Becerra tours Long Beach site housing migrant children, says he's proud of the city

The Long Beach Convention Center has been serving as an emergency shelter to house unaccompanied children who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra toured the shelter Thursday and said he's proud of the city.

The Long Beach site opened for intake on April 22 and has the capacity to hold about 1,000 children. The migrant children are being temporarily sheltered as part of the federal government's national humanitarian effort to support unaccompanied migrant children arriving at the southern borders.

HHS said children receive a medical checkup, clothing, toiletries and food upon arrival. The facility houses girls under 17 and boys under 12.