McSally hosting discussion on surge of migrants into Arizona
U.S. Sen. Martha McSally has coordinated a roundtable meeting to discuss the influx of migrants being apprehended and released in cities around Arizona Monday.
Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls, officials from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and members from non-governmental organizations were all in attendance.
Mayor Nicholls left the meeting hopeful for a solution to one of two issues.
“The transportation network is overtaxed and that’s the true bottleneck. Some Federal response would be an important part of how to resolve this issue. It’s not a local issue. It’s a national issue,” explained Mayor Nicholls.
Mayor Nicholls added the non-profits who are offering aid have had to drop some of the projects they would normally be working on, such as the spike in unemployment.
He also confirmed the Salvation Army is running the shelter that migrants can choose to go to once they are released from CBP’s custody.
“The individuals that are coming into our shelter in Yuma are head of a household female with children, head of household father with children or married couples with children,” said Capt. Jeffrey Brezeale, The Salvation Army.
Capt. Breazeale explained how they are able to process the migrants in their care.
“They come into our facility. They’re processing is checking the documentation is correct, that CBP sent them with. From there, we give them a meal. We assign them a place to sleep. Their sponsor is contacted, funding is secured for transportation,” said Capt. Breazeale.
The location of the shelter will not be released, but The Salvation Army is looking for volunteers.
You can drop off donations to assist the non-profits involved at Immaculate Conception Church and the Yuma Community Food Bank.
Watch our live stream coverage.
Arrests all along the southern border have skyrocketed in recent months.
Border agents were on track to make 100,000 arrests and denials of entry at the southern border in March, over half of which are families with children.
To manage the crush, Customs and Border Protection is reassigning 750 border inspectors from their usual duties at the ports of entry to help Border Patrol keep pace with arrivals in between ports of entry.
