WTOP NEWS REPORTS: Virginia center taking in Central American "children"

STAUNTON, Va. (AP) -- Seven Central American under 18 are being held in a Shenandoah Valley center for juvenile offenders in Staunton (STAN'-tuhn).

The executive director of the Shenandoah Valley Juvenile Center told the News Leader (http://bit.ly/1mnK8PB ) they were placed at the center in the last month. Timothy Smith said they were among thousands of unaccompanied children who have fled their homes and crossed the border illegally into the U.S.

Smith said the center has been taking in children who are in similar circumstances for five years under a contract with the federal government.

As of Thursday, 24 out of 30 beds used for children in the country illegally were in use at the juvenile center.

The primary goal of the juvenile center is to hold juvenile offenders.

http://www.wtop.com/41/3665122/Va-center-taking-in-Central-American-children