$15 million temporary processing facility set to open

U.S. Customs and Border Protection gave a tour to News 11 Friday of the temporary processing facility that will be up and running in the coming weeks.

The $15 million temporary facility is opening any day to process the overflow of family units and unaccompanied minors entering Yuma County.

That price tag only accounts for four months.

Border Patrol said after the sector has four one-month options, each additional month will cost an extra $3 million dollars for taxpayers.

” It’s not a tent facility, ” said Chief Anthony Porvaznik , Yuma Sector Border Patrol. ” As you can see there are no bars, as there is in a jail facility. We’re not putting anybody in stripes and suits or anything like that.

Chief Porvaznik explained the overcrowding inside the processing centers in the Yuma Sector.

” This is a huge benefit for us here in the Yuma Sector because our resources here have been overwhelmed for a while. It’s just taken some time to get the funding through Congress, ” said Chief Porvaznik .

The soft-sided facility holds about 500 people, and they will sleep on gray memory foam mats, according to Yuma Sector Border Patrol.

” This gives us the space to be able to hold people in a space that is not so crowded. That they have space to lay down, ” said Chief Porvaznik . ” More space for a family unit to be able to spread out and not be on top of each other. ”

Family units cannot be detained for longer than three days, while children entering the country alone will only be held for no more than two days.

The temporary facility also comes equipped with showers and a laundry facility.

” They will have the opportunity to change their clothes and launder their clothes. So they will be provided with new clothes for the time being while they’re here, ” said Desi Deleon, Chief Patrol agent in charge.

Inside the facility, there are also playpens for children.

Border Patrol said if they hit capacity again they will have to work along with non-governmental agencies. This is something they’ve been doing for months to address the current border crisis.

The tour and briefing were led by Chief Patrol Agent Anthony Porvaznik ​​​​​​ and Patrol Agent in Charge Desi Deleon. Yuma Sector spokesperson Vincent Dulesky said the facility cost $15 million to keep it running for the next four months.

Yuma Sector Border Patrol confirmed to News 11 that the temporary processing center will hold 500 individuals and have a playground inside.

The facility is expected to be in full function by this weekend, Porvaznik confirmed Friday.