Artesia Mayor Phil Burch says immigration authorities are seeking an extension on a deadline for providing federally-mandated education to detained immigrant children.
Burch told the Artesia News this week that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement needs additional time to choose among educational contractors.
Currently, more than 600 women and children from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador are detained at Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Artesia while they await either deportation or asylum.
Federal officials say the center has to provide educational services for the detained children.
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