Yuma residents demonstrate outside migrant housing
Protestors call for similar help for homeless veterans - News 11's Arlette Yousif reports
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - After roughly 50 protestors stood outside the Best Western Plus Yuma Foothills Inn & Suites, the community is talking. While some are against the protest, others say it's not right to house migrants in Yuma County.
Related: Protest begins as migrants arrive in the Foothills
One protestor tells KYMA his reasoning for wanting migrants out.
"I'm totally against this 'cause we have homeless veterans that need help and we're always told that there's no money, there's no money, there's no money. But we can allocate $365 a person, a day to house" says Colorado River Tea Party Chairman Gilbert Hernandez.
I have reached out to endeavors, the organization said to be facilitating this migrant housing. In an email response, a representative for the organization said:
"We can confirm that DHS has contracted with endeavors to provide critical services to migrant families, which is a continuation of services we have delivered to the migrant population since 2012. For additional information or to speak to someone directly, please contact ice public affairs"
Yuma County Chairman Tony Reyes confirms that the county is not paying for migrant housing and that this is a federally funded project.
"We’re not in charge of that and we’re not responsible for that and the lines of communications between endeavors, which is the company that the government has hired, and us are pretty nebulous. As a matter of fact, that was part of the complaint at yesterday's board meeting, says Yuma County Board of Supervisors Chairman Tony Reyes.
Chairman Reyes says while county officials do not agree with the way the situation is being handled, services must be provided to migrants as they go through processing.
As for who stays and who goes, it's complicated. Migrants who have a criminal record are immediately deported. For others, it's a matter of which country the U.S. has an agreement with, and whether the migrant is an adult or a minor. It all makes a difference, but for the majority, they have 72 hours to be processed with Border Patrol and another 72 hours with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Then it's truly just based on the honor system. The border crosser is released into our community and given a court date to return.
A counter-protestor at the hotel says he agrees that veterans and the homeless should receive help, but that migrants need help too.
"This is America. We’re, I feel like we’re a great country. And I think, I want to welcome people with open arms into our country, especially people that are coming from terrible situations," says Yuma Local David Coulter.
A community divided on what seems to be a never-ending situation.
There are talks of future protests. However, some are said to be at different locations. We will continue to bring you the latest on migrant housing.
