Tucson — Arizona has established five new bus routes to transport immigrants from small border areas to Tucson ahead of the controversial expected lifting of border restrictions this week, Governor Katie Hobbs announced Tuesday. bottom.
The state on Monday established routes to avoid dumping migrants on the streets in communities lacking the infrastructure to care for them and transport them to big cities. The route runs from Douglas, Naco, and Nogales to Casa He Aritas Immigrant Shelter in Tucson.
Border Patrol notified communities about the need to transport migrants to avoid being released on the streets over the weekend, according to Allen Clark, director of the Arizona Department of Emergency Management. He added that more routes are in the works.
“These activities will be on a rolling basis across the state to ensure a safe, humane and orderly lift,” Hobbs said of the new bus routes.
Since the route was established on Monday, Casa Aritas has received about 300 migrants daily from the small border community, said Teresa Cavendish, executive director of Casa Aritas. This figure comes in addition to the number the organization has already received from the Tucson sector of Border Patrol.
“This is a significant increase,” says Cavendish.
Hobbs said the state’s Border Patrol Fund could make $7 million “quickly available” to expand transportation, shelter and public safety activities. The governor’s team is working to find additional sources of funding to support local governments during the lifting of Title 42.
Title 42 was first enacted under the Trump administration in March 2020 to allow border officials to expedite the deportation of most asylum seekers. The Biden administration continues to use this limit as a way to control migrant encounters along the U.S.-Mexico border.
The restrictions are holding back thousands of migrants living in endangered Mexican border areas. U.S. officials estimate that the number of daily migrant encounters along the southern border could rise to 10,000 per day by Title 42 sunset.
Title 42 is scheduled to end on Thursday at 8:59 PM.
Arizona plans:How will states respond to the end of Title 42? Hobbes offers a preview.many questions remain
Hobbes, a Democrat, spoke in front of a tent full of immigrants waiting to be welcomed into the Drexel Center at Casa Aritas in Tucson. Cavendish said migrant shelters are at capacity with approximately 600 to 650 migrants passing through the facility each day.
The Casa Aritas Welcome Center receives immigrants released by the Border Patrol or Immigration and Customs Enforcement and helps arrange transportation to their final destinations across the country.
About 1,200 people pass through Casa Aritas’ six properties at any given time, Cavendish said. While they were at capacity, the organization was able to work with the city and county to “fine-tune” the level of shelter it could offer at this time, she added.
“It’s like an accordion, but with a definite limit to how far you can extend it,” says Cavendish.
The ability of Casa Aritas to continue serving immigrants at these levels while avoiding street release in Arizona communities will depend on the number of immigrant encounters seen after the end of Title 42. Mr Bendish said.
Cavendish said, “We could do a street release as early as later this week, or we could hold off a little longer.”
The “huge” resources developed to help immigrants may not be enough to reach Casa Aritas and help the many people in need once their Title 42 expires. added Cavendish.
Casa Aritas has seen an increase in the number of people it serves in recent months, Cavendish said.
Mr. Hobbs traveled to Tucson to meet with local and nonprofit leaders two days before Title 42, the pandemic-era border restriction, expired. Hobbs expressed frustration at the lack of communication with border agents about where they are dropping off migrants as the state works to avoid releasing them on the streets.
Tucson Border Patrol Chief:Border guards are preparing as much as possible for the end of border restrictions
John Modlin, chief patrol agent for the U.S. Border Patrol’s Tucson Sector, said the agency is as prepared as possible for its Title 42 expiration during Monday’s border security event. rice field. Still, Modlin said he was “concerned” about the end of restrictions, and said Border Patrol facilities were being pushed to their limits.
Border Patrol has not yet shared preparations for the lifting of Title 42 with her office, Hobbs said.
“[Border Patrol]may think they have a plan, but they haven’t told us that plan,” Hobbes said. “I’d like to know what their plans are, but I haven’t heard from them yet.”
Hobbs’ visit comes a day after Hobbs hinted at the state’s five-pronged approach to ending Title 42 at a press conference on Monday.
However, the specific details of the plan were sparse.
“The state stands ready to expand transportation, shelter and public safety operations to meet needs on the ground,” Hobbs said Tuesday.
“We are trying to make sure everything is in place to address any issues that arise from unlocking Title 42.”
Congress’ response:No one in the Arizona legislative delegation is optimistic about what happens after Title 42
Hobbs’ approach revolves around public safety, emergency shelters, enforcement actions, transportation and partnerships.
Hobbes announced the creation of a Joint Information Command Center to prepare for the expected increase in immigrant encounters after restrictions were lifted Thursday night. , and non-governmental organizations to communicate.
Various entities can raise concerns, share updates, and coordinate responses through a new command center.
Hobbes traveled to Nogales in March with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorcas to announce an operation to block more fentanyl at Arizona ports of entry. Earlier that month, Hobbes traveled to Somerton to tour the Border Health Regional Center, the leading immigration assistance nonprofit in Yuma County.
Have news tips or story ideas about the border and its communities? Contact our reporters josecastaneda@arizonarepublic.com or connect with him on Twitter @joseicastaneda.
