YUMA, Arizona (KAWC) – Members of the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday held an open-air hearing in Yuma to learn more about the impact the influx of illegal immigrants is having on the county.

Visit to Yuma Hospital

The Republican Congressman’s Day delegation visited the border early in the morning, followed by a tour of the Yuma Regional Medical Center. They wanted to know more about her YRMC, which spent millions of dollars on uncompensated care for asylum seekers.

Dr. Robert Trenschell, President and CEO of YRMC, elaborated on the dilemma facing hospitals to delegates.

“We provided $26 million in uncompensated care to cross-border immigrants. When you think about it that way, the law requires us to meet everyone who comes to our door. We have 300,000 people queuing at the border that have come in the past year,” Trenschel said.

“And we needed to see someone who needed a hospital visit and we did it. We did it with pride and everyone received the same level of care. If you or your grandmother come here, or if your children come here, they can receive the same care as immigrant children, and we are happy to do that. , what we need is a source of payment for these individuals.”

During the tour, the committee heard more from nurses and staff about how additional patients were straining hospital resources. This is primarily because their mission is to provide the same level of care to all patients, regardless of immigration status.

The neonatal nurse explained that they purchased every car seat they could find to ensure that every discharged baby could move around safely. I emphasized making sure I had a child seat.

Some members of the committee wondered whether care was compromised as patient numbers increased. The hospital insisted otherwise, but admitted it was a common perception. Born by an administrator who had to scramble to find staff.

Dr Trenschell says YRMC is financially stable despite the huge amount of unpaid medical bills, but says the situation is unsustainable in the long term.

The doctor provided similar testimony later in the day when the commission traveled to Yuma City Hall for the hearing.

Hearings are going well

Interest in Thursday afternoon’s hearings was high. Long queues formed as members of the audience waited through security to enter the hearing.

The attendees were dressed in patriotic attire, with hats and T-shirts emblazoned with the words “Go Brandon,” and the atmosphere was surprisingly festive. People took selfies with Rep. Matt Gates (R-Florida), and the early-declaring candidate for the 2024 presidential election passed through the crowd.

Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan launched the hearing by vehemently denouncing the Biden administration’s border policies. He cited a decline in illegal crossings under the Trump administration and a surge that began when President Joe Biden was elected. In fact, applause frequently paused progress.

The commission next called for testimony from Jonathan Lines, deputy chairman of the Yuma County Supervisors, who explained why the surge in illegal crossings threatens national security.

“Illegal immigration from 106 countries has surged to record numbers, 17 of which have been designated as countries of special interest because of their negative ties with the United States and desire to do harm. And it’s been steadily doing these for months.” Line said.

Yuma County Sheriff Leon Wilmot later offered some perspective on the impact of the increase in illegal immigration on the county.

“To best understand my presentation, you need to understand where we were two years ago. It was one of the safest border communities and counties based on our commitment to 100% result delivery and enforcement against criminal elements caught,” Wilmot said.

“When this administration changed course, Border Patrol arrests were averaging about 40 a day, but federal agents quickly averaged 200 a day, and then one along the north-flowing river. We went from 400 to over 1,000 a day.”

Sheriff Wilmot went on to describe the stress the surge in railroad crossings is putting on deputies, support staff and prisons.

He also spoke of an increase in drug penetration in far-flung eastern Yuma County. We have asked the Sheriff’s Office for a detailed report on the increase in drug smuggling attempts in East County, but so far we have not received a response to our request.

It was a topic later raised by Congressman Andy Biggs (R-Arizona). Biggs is not a member of the committee, but was invited as an honored guest to question the witnesses.

Rep. Biggs has questioned reports that most of the fentanyl entering the United States comes through ports of entry.

“I would first try to undermine the narrative posed by our colleagues across the aisle who would say 90% of fentanyl is seized at the border… In the harbor,” said Biggs. “As if there weren’t tons of fentanyl and other drugs coming in through the dock.”

“The story of 90% arriving at ports has changed a bit due to the recession in the January time frame,” Lines replied. % are being intercepted at ports.To counter that narrative, Border Patrol now has an opportunity because they don’t spend 1.57 hours processing each individual.The Board We can provide national security and border security.”

Customs and Border Protections told KAWC that it had seen an increase in drug seizures at checkpoints, but could not speculate whether the drugs entered the country through the port or through another route. It has said.

Committee criticism

The Judiciary Committee wasn’t the only member of Congress in Yuma on Thursday. spent

Rep. Grijalva told KAWC that this was a trip and he believed Republicans should have done the same.

“They never talked to people on the ground. They never went to talk to Amanda Aguirre at the community health center. I didn’t speak to any official, nor did I go see how nonprofits, religious organizations, and the Salvation Army were responding to the humanitarian crisis we were facing. Are you focused on South County?”

“The reality is that the San Luis mayor, mayor and council, Somerton mayor and council, and other communities have to be the first responders.”

San Luis Mayor Nieves Riedel also stared blankly at the hearings.In an interview with NPR on Friday Here & Now She said she didn’t think anything would come of it.

Riedel told NPR’s Peter Oh, “It’s worth nothing. If I’m talking about Republicans and Democrats, if you really care what’s going on with illegal immigration , they’ll sit at the table and talk,’ said Dowd.

“And I know there is a fix. Everything but death can be fixed. They don’t want to because this is a good political hot potato they can throw at each other.” ”

Democrats on the Judiciary Committee refused to attend the hearings, and only Republican representatives were present because they were not given sufficient notice to readjust their previous pledges.

Grijalva said his colleagues did not come because they knew what would happen.

“That’s what the Democrats on the Judiciary Committee who didn’t come said. They said, ‘We don’t want to be part of it, we don’t want to be props for Jim Jordan and his crew, we don’t want to be part of the circus.’ I said I don’t want to.

Punchbowl News reports that Democrats are planning their own hearings next month.