Yuma mayor addresses arrival of Haitian migrants at POE

Concerned about the growing trend of Haitian and other migrants seeking asylum at the San Luis Port of Entry, Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls says he’s meeting with other civic and government leaders.

“Myself along with the mayor of San Luis and the Sheriff met with some federal officials yesterday in order to get to the truth behind some of the rumors circulating,” said Nicholls.

According Shawn Moran, a Border Patrol spokesperson for the National Border Patrol Council, who can speak on the issue, “We are seeing hundreds of Haitians, and in the case of Tijuana, probably over a thousand waiting to come to the ports of entry requesting asylum.”

The trend of Haitians, and recently an increase of migrants from the Mexican states of Chiapas and Guerrero, is particularly felt at the ports of entry in California and Arizona. The majority of migrants are concentrated in Tijuana but also along the Mexicali, San Luis Rio Colorado and recently reports indicate the arrival of Haitian migrants in Nogales.

Mayors Nicholls says it is his understanding that the migrants, in particular those coming from Haiti, are not facing a special status with the federal government.

“There are Haitians that have found their way to the U.S./Mexico border and they are attempting to enter the United States legally through the port. They have been at several ports and they are continuing to pile up for entry into the United States. The normal process for CBP and ICE is being performed so there is no special process,” said Nicholls.

Mayors Nicholls says he is being informed that single adults are being detained and family units are being sent to Phoenix for further processing.

“They are not being released to the Yuma community,” said Nicholls.

Official figures from CBP and ICE have not been released as to how many migrants have arrived since the trend started but ICE officials confirmed to News 11 that 2,849 Haitians are in ICE custody nationwide.

Senator McCain’s office also released a statement to News 11 saying:

“Senator McCain is engaged with DHS at the local, headquarters and Secretary level to express concerns of citizens and public officials in affected Arizona communities particularly those in San Luis and Yuma. He will make sure DHS addresses their concerns in a timely and efficient manner, and provide a plan of action and sufficient resources needed to ensure the security and safety of these communities as well as the Haitian asylees.”

San Luis CBP officials also said in a statement that they are processing the individuals on a case by case basis after which individuals with no status to legally enter the U.S. are placed in removal proceedings and in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Mayor Nicholls continued, “The Mexican immigration officials have been working with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to set up a processing system so that as the large groups come to San Luis, they enter a process by which they are scheduled to appear at the port.”