TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Pima County has begun the process of eliminating a program that transports asylum seekers from Tucson to other destinations around the country.
The county took over the small program five years ago to coordinate the efforts of nonprofits, state and federal agencies, and other southern Arizona counties.
At the time, 100 asylum seekers were passing through the city a day, but in recent years the number has sometimes reached 1,500 a day.
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Costs have ballooned to about $1 million a week, all of which is being covered by the federal government.
That federal funding is scheduled to run out on March 31, and Congress is not scheduled to vote on a bill to fund the border.
The county is not optimistic that an alternative source of funding will be found.
Over the years, it has spent tens of millions of federal dollars to move more than 350,000 asylum seekers through Tucson.
“I think we should send a letter to all our partners and let them know that today is the day we close,” said board chair Adelita Grijalva.
The lack of funding will put an end to five years of operation once the county organizes all its efforts and coordinates all of its many federal grants.
“So I think Pima County has stepped up and done a great job of keeping our community safe,” Grijalva said.
By providing approximately 350,000 asylum seekers with food, shelter, and transportation for 24 to 72 hours before leaving Tucson and traveling to other destinations, we can help keep our communities safe. she believes. By keeping people who don't know their language or customs off the streets, we keep them safe and our city safe.
What happens next is still an unanswered question.
“If the federal government is not able to continue funding, can we give you an estimate of how long they will be with us,” County Supervisor Rex Scott said. asked Mr. Rescher.
“I don't know the answer to that question,” she said.
But answering some of these questions will take some time.
With six weeks to go until funding is zero, the county said “hope never springs” because Pima County is not alone in its straits without federal funding.
“It's going to impact the people of Cochise County and Santa Cruz County. The entire region will be incredibly impacted by the failure of federal leadership,” Scott said.
However, that is not a widely accepted conclusion.
Although some members of the public addressed the board, board member Steve Christie feels the blame lies squarely at home, not in Washington.
“We knew these federal dollars were coming in, and my colleague said it's the federal government's fault, it's not the federal government's fault, it's Pima County's fault.” said Christy. “Because we took that first dollar and relied on that money to become an enabler.”
Tucson will be greatly affected by this, and the City Council plans to address the issue at its next study session scheduled for Wednesday, February 21st. Most asylum seekers are dropped off within city limits, which can number in the hundreds a day. .
13 News also spoke to Casa Alitas, part of Catholic Community Services, which operates the shelter, and said that starting April 1, 2024, “all of our work will be donor-funded, and we will be open to businesses of all sizes. “It's going to be very difficult.”
“It's heartbreaking,” Chief Operating Officer Teresa Cavendish said.
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