Local leaders react to May border apprehension numbers

The new numbers showing over 33,000 immigrants were apprehended in the Yuma sector, leaving local leaders concerned at the high level - 13 On Your Side's Luis Lopez reports

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - 210,000, that’s the number of total migrant apprehensions along the border in Yuma since last October.

Yuma County Supervisor Jonathan Lines, worried about how local resources will be affected.

“It continues to be a burden for healthcare providers, and then in and of itself, it’s a challenge to our immigration system,” Lines said.

May’s apprehensions averaged over 1,000 a day.

Lines also says there’s been an uptick in signs of human trafficking.

Many immigrants being processed aren’t saying who their sponsor is or where they’re going, which lines says are some of the primary signs for trafficking.

“So that makes it incredibly difficult, but it is a red flag, and those numbers have continued to go up,” Lines said.

Heat is also an issue going into summer, as migrants battle the high temperatures.

Even risking death along the way.

“The fact that the people continue to come despite the risks, especially because we’ve had right at 30 confirmed deaths in Yuma sector because of the heat,” Lines said.

Overall the entire southern border is on a record pace, as we could reach two million total apprehensions by the end of September, making it a new record.