Mixed Reactions After Plan Scrapped to House Border Kids

Residents living near the vacant Lamar Alternative Education Program building have been getting tired of all the media attention in recent weeks. Now, with news that the campus is no longer in the running to temporarily house the border children, residents are sharing their thoughts and reactions.

Oscar Uribe, a Grand Prairie resident who lives down the street from the Lamar Alternative Education Program building, said he was disappointed to hear that the plan to bring the undocumented minors to his neighborhood has been scrapped.

"It's just a shame. I would love to go and speak to them about, give them hope. That's what I would love to do just give them hope, talk to them," he said.

But not everybody feels that way. One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, lives just across the street from the empty school. He said he and his family celebrated after hearing that the immigrant kids will no longer be coming here.

And once news broke last month that the campus could potentially house hundreds of border children temporarily, another neighbor, Curt Williams, said their quiet community was turned upside down.

"Police coming around and the news media coming around, and it just draws attention where attention doesn't need to be," he said.

Resident Diana Gorski said she also looked forward to some peace and quiet, but she also hoped one day the vacant structure could come back to life and make a positive impact in someone's life.

"It's sad that there is a space like that sitting empty where it can be used," she said.

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