TUCSON, Ariz. (CBS, KYMA/KECY) – 9,525 immigrants entered the Tucson area during the week of Dec. 21, bringing the total number of immigrants since 2019 to more than 360,000.

But county officials have started noticing a recent spike. The end of title 42.

“Since May, they have been posting record numbers every month. And as those numbers increase, so does the need for our humanitarian partners to strike a balance.” Pima County Emergency Management said Shane Clark, director of the bureau.

To help cover costs, the county is using funds from the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Shelter Services Program and funds already used from the Emergency Food and Shelter Program through FEMA.

Operates without federal funding

However, on March 1st, all funds will expire.

“This was a budgetary and programmatic decision made at the federal level. Because FEMA and CMP are part of Homeland Security, we are writing to Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. We're encouraging him to look for more money. ”

Jan Jester, Pima County Executive

Currently, the following organizations Casa Alitasspends $1 million a week to help more than 1,100 migrants a day, but funding from its shelter services program can only support up to 750 migrants a day.

But starting in February, Casa Alitas may have to operate without federal funding, potentially significantly reducing the number of people it can help.

“They will maintain the staff they can maintain and the shelters available. Transportation will be affected. The amount of shelters will be reduced,” Clark said.

federal issues

Fears of street releases since 2019 may finally become an unwanted reality, as authorities expect intake at Casa Alitas to decline.

District 4 Supervisor Steve Christie says street releases only add to the serious problems Pima County faces every day.

“We have been fighting on another front, the homeless problem in Pima County. What if homeless people from all over the world come to Pima County and are released when we are already covered with our own homeless people? , imagine what that would be like.”

Steve Christy, Pima County Board of Supervisors District 4 Supervisor

Lesher County Commissioners said this is strictly a federal issue. She said the county's general fund, paid for by resident taxpayers, would remain intact while she and many others find solutions to obtain and maintain funding.