Nearly 19,000 children are in federal custody after traveling alone across the U.S.-Mexico border - and some of them may be coming to Connecticut.

The federal government is trying to decide where to house the children amid the overload at the border.

The Connecticut Juvenile Training School in Middletown is being considered for housing. The center has been closed since 2018.

Many critics say they're worried that housing young migrant children at this location could be a mistake, and that it's too prison-like.

After receiving a request from Vice President Kamala Harris, Gov. Ned Lamont said Friday the feds are pushing to use the location, as it's designed to house several hundred kids.

Lamont says he toured the facility recently and it is cleaned up, ready to go with adequate classrooms, cafeterias, fields and courts - but critics say placing children already experiencing trauma in a former youth prison will make matters worse.

Lamont says Connecticut plans on making a formal recommendation by next week.