Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D) detailed Friday his plan to temporarily provide shelter to undocumented children who have illegally entered the United States.

Patrick is working to help the federal government identify a site in Massachusetts to temporarily shelter up to 1,000 children while they await deportation or are reconnected with family members within the U.S. Possible locations have ranged from military bases to unused shopping malls. Costs would be shouldered by the federal government, and the shelters would be under federal control.

"The facility would be secure. It would have spaces for children to eat, sleep, play and go to school," Patrick explained during a press conference, saying the average expected stay would be 35 days for each child.

Patrick appealed to listeners' humanity and drew on personal convictions, noting that "it bears remembering that these are children alone in a foreign land."

He later got emotional, explaining how his faith informed his decision. "I believe that one day we will have to answer for our actions and our inactions. My faith teaches that 'if a stranger dwells with you in your land, you shall not mistreat him,' but rather 'love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt,'" Patrick said.