The question looming is whether or not Joint Base Lewis-McChord will be put into service housing unaccompanied minors who have illegally entered the U.S. at its southwest border.

In a statement from early June 2014, Secretary Jeh Johnson of the Department of Homeland Security wrote: "Addressing the rising flow of unaccompanied children crossing our southwest border is an important priority of this Administration and the Department of Homeland Security. It requires a whole of government coordinated and sustained response."

As part of the effort to address this increased occurrence at the border, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is looking at potential locations to increase the temporary sheltering capacity of HHS.

These locations, or resources, are being identified by the DoD and the U.S. General Services Administration and will enhance the capability to transition unaccompanied children to the HHS, according to Kenneth Wolfe, deputy director of Public Affairs for the Administration of Children and Families.

The HHS is currently assessing whether JBLM should be one of several installations used to house these minors from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. Presently Fort Sill, Okla., Naval Base Ventura County, Calif., and Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, are being utilized for this same issue.

"A vacant facility at Joint Base Lewis-McChord is under consideration by HHS (Health and Human Services) to temporarily house unaccompanied children," JBLM officials stated. That facility can reportedly house up to 600 individuals.

Other government officials from the area have also been notified of the pending decision.

"I have been made aware of HHS's consideration to temporarily shelter some of the undocumented and unaccompanied minors at Joint Base Lewis-McChord as they move as quickly as possible to find safe and legal guardians," confirmed Congressman Denny Heck, who serves Washington's 10th District, which includes JBLM.

"My support for comprehensive immigration reform within our own borders aside, this is a humanitarian crisis that has steadily gotten worse since at least 2005. It's a crisis that won't ebb until these children's home countries attack the root of this problem and enforce their own rule of law such that these children aren't forced to flee for their lives," Heck said.

Heck added that he has been assured that none of this would interfere with the installation's missions.

"Once all relevant information about the appropriateness of the facility has been gathered and analyzed, a final decision will be announced by HHS," said Wolfe.

JBLM officials concurred that HHS will ultimately decide if they will utilize JBLM.