ST. PAUL — The federal government said 173 unaccompanied immigrant children have been placed in Minnesota since the start of the year.

The Office of Refugee Resettlement on Thursday issued a state-by-state breakdown of unaccompanied child placement. The figures show more than 30,000 children have been released to sponsors this year through July 7.

Texas, New York, Florida and California are receiving the most unaccompanied children caught at the U.S. border, according to the information.

U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison, a Minnesota Democrat, is leading efforts to bring to the state more unaccompanied children who’ve fled Central America for the U.S. Ellison said Minnesota is as well-equipped as any other state to handle the children.

Federal and state governments are scrambling to find shelter for the children fleeing violence in Central America.