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Lynch Skeptical Of Proposal To Shelter Illegal Immigrant Children In Mass.

BOSTON (CBS) – Massachusetts Congressman Stephen Lynch believes undocumented children brought to Massachusetts for temporary shelter will likely stay much longer than the proposed 35-40 days.

Just back from a trip to Central America, Lynch told WBZ NewsRadio 1030 Friday he believes the kids would end up staying much longer due to a current backlog in the federal immigration system.

"I wouldn't say it is impossible," Lynch said about sticking to the 40-day timeline.

"I would say it is extremely unlikely that these kids would be moved out and stabilized and reconnected after a couple months. I think it is a much more complicated situation, much more involved than simply we're going to hold them for a couple of months and let them go."

The governor said he offered Camp Edwards military base on Cape Cod and Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee as possible sites in response to a request from President Barack Obama to help with the immigration overload nationwide.

On Wednesday, Patrick said many people had misunderstood the plan adding it would only happen if the federal government submitted a formal request for housing children.

Lynch talks to WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Joe Mathieu

Rep. Lynch Skeptical Of Shelter Plan

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