Over 1,000 undocumented immigrants apprehended daily
CBP ready for Title 42 changes - 13 On Your Side's Arlette Yousif reports
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA/KECY) - Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents say they continue to see a high number of undocumented immigrants at the border, even though Title 42 is still active until May 2022.
The policy currently allows agents to deport migrants right back to Mexico or their home countries.
Chief clem told me currently over 1,000 undocumented immigrants are crossing into the Yuma Sector every single day, with no indication of letting up any time soon.
A high number of apprehensions appear to be the norm along the Yuma Sector border.
Well, the numbers are certainly increasing. I know the official stats for February are out and Yuma Sector was responsible for about over 118,000 apprehensions […] About 90% of our apprehensions have been coming from countries that are non-traditional countries, not Mexico or the northern triangle countries," says Yuma Sector Border Patrol Chief Clem.
Rescues along the Yuma border are already up to 225, nearly 50 higher compared to this time last year.
Criminal arrests are already at 231 this fiscal year. That's up from 185 this time last year.
Chief Clem says Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is prepared for any necessary changes as a result of the Title 42 decision.
Title 42 is, you know, it is a CDC order. We don’t control that from a CBP or Border Patrol perspective. We kind of just, you know, address that and adjust to that […] Always have contingency planning. So one of the things we do is if there is an end to Title 42 as it’s applied today, you know, what would that look like for us?" asks Chief Clem.
Border Patrol says it's ready, even though agents are stretched thin right here at home.
The Chief met with U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema recently and expressed the needs of the Yuma Sector.
"We need transportation enhancements to be able to facilitate the movement of people, whether it’s from the field or when we’ve processed them or we turn them over to ICE ERO, which is the next phase in the immigration continuum," explains Chief Clem.
Chief Clem says the local non-profit organizations that help CBP, like Regional Center for Border Health, also need additional resources to continue doing all they can.
The Yuma Sector is adding an additional soft-sided holding facility that should be up and running no later than the end of April to help with any potential overflow of migrants.
