Advertisement

John Kelly, Trump’s ex-chief of staff, joins board of firm running America’s biggest child migrant facility

White House Chief of Staff John Kelly attends a meeting between US President Donald J. Trump and US House Speaker-designate Nancy Pelosi and US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 11 December 2018. EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS via AP

John Kelly, former White House chief of staff, has joined the board of Caliburn International Corp, the parent of an operator of a shelter for unaccompanied migrant children, a company spokeswoman confirmed on Friday.

Kelly left U.S. President Donald Trump‘s White House at the end of last year against the backdrop of changes to immigration policy.

WATCH: Dec. 8, 2018 — Trump: Chief of staff John Kelly will be leaving at the end of the year

Click to play video: 'Trump: Chief of staff John Kelly will be leaving at the end of the year'
Trump: Chief of staff John Kelly will be leaving at the end of the year

Caliburn owns Comprehensive Health Services Inc, a private, for-profit company that runs a facility for unaccompanied migrant children in Homestead, Florida, some 35 miles south of Miami.

Story continues below advertisement

The site became a heated topic of debate, as immigration advocates and Democratic legislators complained many traumatized children who fled violence and poverty in their home countries were held in the institutionalized setting for too long before being released to sponsoring families who could better care for them.

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

READ MORE: Trump’s White House wanted to bus migrants to sanctuary cities and release them there — reports

Earlier in the day, CBS News reported Kelly‘s appointment.

The biggest shelter for unaccompanied migrant children in the U.S., Homestead doesn’t have to undergo routine inspections by child welfare experts, the network noted.

WATCH: April 21 — Leader of armed group stopping migrants at U.S.-Mexico border arrested by FBI

Click to play video: 'Leader of armed group stopping migrants at U.S.-Mexico border arrested by FBI'
Leader of armed group stopping migrants at U.S.-Mexico border arrested by FBI

While many child welfare facilities see numerous inspections each year, Homestead only has to have one every two years.

Advertisement

Sponsored content

AdChoices