Asylum seekers housed in Yuma hotel
News 11's Arlette Yousif confirms hotel housing migrants is fully booked until at least September
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls confirms that migrants are being temporarily housed at the Wingate by Wyndham in Yuma. This is one of six migrant housing operations along the southern border. Migrants now have a three-day accommodation while they wait for official court documents.
RELATED: Yuma Mayor confirms at least one hotel will be used to hold migrants
The Endeavors Group, a non-profit organization, that focuses on providing crisis relief has been contracted by the department of homeland security to provide aid to asylum seekers.
"So this is a federally funded operation that will provide everything from housing to COVID-19 testing, to clothing, food, medical services, if needed. And then ultimately the migrants themselves or their host will be paying for the ultimate transportation to their ultimate location," says Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls.
The non-profit has confirmed the $86 million arrangement in a statement saying…
“We can confirm that DHS has contracted with Endeavors to provide critical services to migrant families, including in Yuma, which is a continuation of services we have delivered to the migrant population since 2012.”
The mayor says he understands that the community may have concerns.
"If people are really looking one way or the other to express an opinion, Americans and our first amendment rights. We should be expressing opinions. Doing that at the hotel isn’t going to be as effective as contacting our federal legislatures, as contacting those in dc that, you know, make these policies," explains Mayor Nicholls.
Hotel accommodations are temporary. The daily cost per person is approximately $364 with families of two or more per room.
"Bringing some of the migrants that have been released from border patrol to ice, to the endeavors hotel where they’ll end up getting processed through within two to three days ’till their ultimate destination," says Mayor Nicholls.
Asylum seekers are then released and expected to appear in court on their designated hearing date. They are given a cell phone-like device, used only for checking in with immigration and customs enforcement daily, sending a photo and the location of the person checking in.
News 11's Arlette Yousif has reached out to Wingate but has not been able to contact anyone for comment. However, their website shows that the 76-room hotel is booked out through September.
