Congressman Raul Grijalva asks Trump administration for more humanitarian aid

Congressman Raul Grijalva sent a letter to Homeland Security urging the Trump administration for more humanitarian money here in the Yuma area.

One of the biggest questions county officials raised in last week’s meeting with Grijalva is the lack of transportation and whether the county will declare a state of emergency.

Tony Reyes confirmed there is no need to call for one and the county is working towards a solution.

Congressman’s Raul Grijalva’s letter to Department of Homeland Security urging the Trump administration to coordinate with humanitarian non-profits assisting asylum-seekers released in Yuma.

In addition, his statement demanded answers as to how it will change the releasing of large groups into Yuma despite limited resources.

Yuma County Board of Supervisors Chairman, Tony Reyes, agrees with the congressman’s demands

“There is no logical way that Border Patrol is releasing people into communities that have no resources and that are too small,” Reyes said.

However, he said the county is taking action for a solution.

“We called the meeting with the local emergency teams and then we brought in the state emergency to narrow down the problem,” Reyes said.

Reyes said there is a process to follow. Therefore, the county cannot declare an emergency on a crisis he believes is not there.

“I cannot declare an emergency inside a city. The only places I can declare an emergency is an unincorporated area. The chairman is the only one who could declare,” Reyes added.

Adding that declaring an emergency is typically for major disasters like flooding, he said the migrant influx doesn’t fit the means for an emergency declaration.

If declared funds would come from the county, Reyes said, “The county runs under state statute, we’re not as flexible as cities are by ordinance. The county has to meet those requirements.”

He did state that he has been in constant communication with Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls and the San Luis Mayor Gerardo Sanchez.

“Mayor Nicholls was disappointed I didn’t call the emergency but he does understand out the situation. Mayor Sanchez does feel like the city is under emergency…we don’t see it people walking around the streets,” Reyes said.

News 11 reached out to Grijalva’s office in Washington for a statement. He sent us a statement saying quote “it’s perplexing that so much time and effort is spent decrying a crisis-that the trump administration created-yet so little money is invested in already existing programs that help assist asylum-seeking families to navigate the immigration court system.”

During its monthly meeting, the Yuma County Board of Supervisors will discuss possible solutions to help assist with the immigration crisis in the area.