Yuma mayor issues emergency declaration due to recent migrant surge
Mayor Nicholls discusses his decision to declare an emergency with News 11
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls spoke with KYMA.com following his emergency declaration.
Published December 9, 2021 6:47 PM
PHOENIX, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Arizona Senator Mark Kelly released the following statement in response to Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls issuing a proclamation of emergency as an influx of migrants arrive in the Yuma border sector:
Earlier today, I spoke with Yuma Mayor Nicholls, Supervisor Lines, and Sheriff Wilmot to receive the latest update from them about the situation on the ground and what support is needed. I spoke to Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas this evening and urged him to take immediate action and send additional resources and staffing to address the surge at the border and ensure a secure, orderly and humane process.
I’ll keep working closely with Yuma leaders and pressing the federal government to make sure our border communities don’t continue bearing the brunt of this crisis.
Published December 9, 2021 6:00 PM
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Border Patrol issued a statement following the emergency declaration:
Unscrupulous smugglers continue to exploit vulnerable migrants. CBP’s message is clear: Our borders are not open. People should not make the dangerous journey. DHS continues to expel migrants under CDC’s Title 42 authority. Individuals who are not able to be expelled are processed through the Department’s Title 8 immigration authorities for either expedited or full removal proceedings.
CBP is currently managing the effects on Yuma Sector of the exploitation on those vulnerable populations and is working with our partners in a whole of government approach to expeditiously transport, screen and process those encountered. Local non-governmental organizations continue to assist in providing basic needs for the migrants still waiting to be taken into custody along the border.
Published December 9, 2021 4:47 PM
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls issued a local emergency declaration Thursday citing the humanitarian and border crisis.
Nicholls said it's due to the unprecedented numbers of migrants entering the city prior to being processed and released by Border Patrol.
Nicholls said a significant number of migrants are entering the Yuma area and federal agency personnel are struggling to manage the flow of migrants in the community and at federal facilities.
Nicholls said that within the last five days, there have been reports of over 6,000 migrants crossing from Mexico into the United States traveling through the Yuma area. The U. S. Customs and Border Protection reports the number of migrant encounters have increased by 2,647 percent since Oct. 1.
Yuma Sector Border Patrol said in a Facebook post earlier this week that there were more than 4,000 migrants who crossed the border into Yuma from last Friday to this Monday.
When News 11 was at the border Monday and Tuesday numbers were not as high.
In our past reporting, for the last couple months, daily crossings have gone from 200-700 migrants on average.
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Nicholls said that migrants are traveling through Yuma during a time of great uncertainty about the COVID-19 virus, and without provisions for adequate food, water, shelter, transportation and medical care and that this surge of migrants has and will continue to strain the ability of medical staff and local hospital resources to provide essential and necessary medical care.
Mayor Nicholls said he proclaimed a local emergency to address the humanitarian crisis affecting the Yuma community and to protect the health, safety and welfare of residents and that federal and state resources are needed to address the current humanitarian crisis.
This act makes the city eligible to receive state and federal funding for aid, relief, and assistance to mitigate the crisis. “The change in the movement of migrants greatly impacts the Yuma community,” Nicholls said. He explained that federal resources must increase to meet this new level.
Ultimately Mayor Nicholls says the proclamation shouldn't raise too much concern in the community.
“The people who are coming in are looking to engage with border patrol, not evade, it’s not something I’m concerned about individually," Nicholls said. "However people need to be diligent and look at what’s going on around them.”
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