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Travis County to renew contract with Austin nonprofit that houses undocumented children

Travis County will renew a contract with an Austin nonprofit that houses hundreds of undocumented children, commissioners decided.

AUSTIN — Southwest Key, the Austin organization that has taken in immigrant children who've been separated from their parents at the border, will remain for another year after Travis County commissioners unanimously approved the renewal of a contract, according to KVUE's news partners at the Austin American-Statesman.

This news comes after protesters gathered outside the nonprofit's headquarters last month to demand that city leaders cut ties with Southwest Key. The nonprofit, which houses hundreds of undocumented children, came under fire during the height of President Donald Trump's "zero tolerance" immigration policy.

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The Statesman said no activists were at the commissioners meeting, but more than two dozen Southwest Key employees and clients were present.

Travis County has siz contracts totaling about $1.5 million with Southwest Key. The contracts, which are renewed annually, are funded by state grants and county funds.

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