Low migrant activity as senators come to the border

SAN LUIS, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - One usually busy migrant crossing spot in Yuma was quiet Tuesday morning, while a group of senators were visiting the border.

Just north of the Cocopah Reservation is where migrants typically enter into the United States, where the federal border wall ends as it meets sovereign tribal land. 

County supervisor Jonathan Lines says it's due to the high-water level on the Colorado River. 

Forcing migrants to take an alternate route, crossing into the united states through San Luis, Arizona.

“On the other side of this fence, it is the city of San Luis, and the City of San Luis goes all the way into the middle of the Colorado River and it’s very easy for them to get across when there’s no water in there,” said San Luis Police Chief, Richard Jessup.

Jessup says there is no clear answer to whether the change in migration route was related to the senators' visit. 

“We saw quite a bit of an uptick. We don’t know whether or not because the senators will be in our area, as far as the yuma area is concerned, if they are just holding on the other side, you don’t know how word travels on the other side,” said Jessup.

I rode along with the chief to check out the San Luis crossing point for myself. 

That’s where I met Clever Precilla, a migrant from Ecuador, who told me what it takes to get into the United States. 

“If you don’t have money you don’t cross,” said Precilla.

Clever traveled to the united states with 30 other Ecuadorians, escaping violence in their country. 

“We come to the U.S. To seek help because in our country it’s too violent we have gangs, we have extortion by gangs, if we don’t give them money, they kill us,” said Precilla.

So far, customs and border protection has reported under 50-thousand apprehensions this fiscal year and have not yet reported the numbers for the month of December.