Migrants from 42 different countries apprehended at the southern border
Yuma Sector BP reports over 4,300 migrant apprehensions in one week - News 11's Arlette Yousif reports
YUMA, Ariz. ( KYMA, KECY) - Border Patrol's Yuma Sector reports that migrants are now coming from at least 42 different countries. Typically, migrants are coming from a handful of countries including Brazil, Ecuador, and Nicaragua.
The daily average of migrants entering the country through Yuma County is once again at 620. The rising numbers are within a week of a Texas judge upholding the "stay in Mexico" order.
One local representative says it's a bad situation.
"The ones that are going to be the most traumatized, the ones that are going to be hurt, the ones that going to be physically damaged by this are the children. And we should take that into consideration that these are children with their families. With their mom or dad or aunt and uncle that are fleeing persecution," says Arizona District 4 Rep. Charlene Fernandez (D).
Though there’s another perspective.
"I think it's a common sense decision that they, the supreme court made. I think, when you look at the big picture, we have anybody that just comes up here without no checks and balances. I believe this is going to let those folks who are wanting and deserve asylum the ability to know that they are going to make that trek. And they can come up and apply for asylum. This is going to take it out of the hands of the cartels," explains Arizona District 13 Rep. Tim Dunn (R).
Still, there’s no telling if the "stay in Mexico" order directly impacts where migrants are coming from.
"This situation is a little different. Here recently, we’ve been seeing an increase in the number of countries. For instance, last week we’ve seen migrants from 42 different countries. You know, we’re usually used to seeing seven or eight," says Yuma Sector Border Patrol Supervisor Vincent Dulesky.
Agent Dulesky says about 90% of the apprehensions are family units and that about 10% tried to evade border patrol agents, all of which came through the Colorado River corridor.
Some of the migrants are coming from Romania and Haiti.
"You know, there’s so many variables. I think it’s constantly moving and we just have to stay on it," explains Rep. Fernandez.
Rep. Fernandez says the Biden administration will continue to fight to eliminate the "stay in Mexico" order and return to former immigration law practices, even though some don't agree.
