The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is reportedly considering moving migrant children to new shelters in cities including Dallas and Atlanta in response to overcrowded shelters that are currently housing migrants.

The Dallas Morning News reported Monday that HHS is looking at vacant properties in several cities in Texas, including Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio and Houston. The agency is also looking at Phoenix and Atlanta, the newspaper reported.

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A spokesperson with HHS told the newspaper that the Texas cities are being considered for "potential future use as state-licensed permanent shelter locations for unaccompanied" migrant children.

The development comes as the number of migrant families seeking asylum in the U.S. has surged in recent months.

Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins told the newspaper that HHS contacted him to gauge the willingness and capability of the county to house some migrants. Jenkins said his office received a letter from HHS Regional Director Fred Schuster.

"I let him know that we are ready, willing and able to help out these kids. I asked him to let us do our part," Jenkins told the newspaper.