Locals speak out after hundreds of undocumented immigrants are released into community

Hundreds of undocumented immigrants were released in Arizona last week and many are in Yuma waiting to see if they will receive the asylum they are hoping for.

Yuma residents had a mixed response about the matter.

Some said that we should help these asylum seekers and others were opposed to it.

“I feel that they should try to make changes in their own country. That’s what we did here in the United States. They came over from England and said well we’re going to be your boss. They said no you’re not. They took care of the situation,” explained Eldon Warren.

Others also added that the United States should continue their plans to build a wall along the U.S. – Mexico border to keep undocumented immigrants out of the U.S.

Some Yuma residents compared the treatment of undocumented immigrants to herding cattle and not treating them as human beings.

News 11 spoke to the Catholic diocese Tuesday who referred us to Catholic Community Services.

The Catholic Community Services have yet to answer how many asylum seekers they are assisting in Yuma County. They have also not said how they are doing on resources and how many people are donating to the cause.

As of Wednesday, the Yuma Refugee Ministries has assisted close to 400 families since ICE released hundreds from detention centers.

During Tuesday’s Senate debate, Yuma’s tie to these immigrants was brought to light by U.S. Representatives Martha McSally and Kyrsten Sinema.

McSally highlighted a conversation that she had with Mayor Doug Nicholls where he expressed concern about the number of immigrants being released into the Yuma community.

Mayor Nicholls told News 11 that he wants the federal government to find a better solution for this problem.