Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed says there should be no debate – unaccompanied, undocumented immigrant children who cross the border into the U.S. should have a home in the city of Atlanta.

Reed held a news conference on the issue Tuesday afternoon at City Hall.

He said the city of Atlanta will be a safe place for the unattended children. Reed’s comments came after Gov. Nathan Deal recently sent a letter to President Obama, asking him to stop sending unaccompanied illegal children to Georgia.

"I'm going to send a message in no uncertain terms that these children need a safe place, and a safe haven. The city of Atlanta is going to be that," he said.

Reed said it's the moral and right thing to do.

“The fact of the matter is, we have a growing immigrant population in the metropolitan region and in the state, and it's very important that we send a signal that we're going to be a welcoming community and we're going to allow these folks to be trained and treat them well," said Reed.

Deal’s office said 1,154 unaccompanied illegal immigrant children have been placed in Georgia.

Channel 2's Dave Huddleston wanted to ask the governor about Reed’s comments, but his staff said he would address the issue Wednesday.

"I haven't read the governor’s letter, but I’m not surprised. We’re just on a different place on this," Reed said.