The leader of a Yuma County volunteer group that delivers water and snacks to migrants at the border every day expected last week’s border hearing in Yuma to be one-sided.

Fernando Quiroz of the AZ-CA Humanitarian Coalition told KAWC before the House Judiciary Committee hearing last week.

Kiros said he saw between 700 and 1,000 immigrants every day before the recent Biden administration’s policies on immigration. Now the number he is 100-300 immigrants a day. He says leaders have not acknowledged the recent changes to borders.

“They say, ‘Look at this invasion.’ Where is it?” said Kiros. “Why do they keep beating their drums of terror…inhumane to these asylum-seeking individuals?”

At a hearing last Thursday at Yuma City Hall and in multiple interviews with conservative news outlets, Yuma County Supervisors Jonathan Lines and Sheriff Leon Wilmot said the border was in “crisis” and He said the Biden administration was to blame.

Kiros said he saw both Lynes and Wilmot along the border.

“They see the difference,” he said. “They’re seeing the impact and our own Border Patrol figure says it’s 30% of what he was before.”

Kiros said he and his volunteers have been interacting with Border Patrol agents. He believes agents are doing the best they can with the limited personnel and facilities located in the Yuma sector.

Kiros said he and Lines both have faith, but they differ in the way they talk about borders and immigration.

“Mr. Lines is a loyal man,” he said. “May he give up his faith rather than his politics.”

Kiros said he and the AZ-CA Humanitarian Coalition will continue to welcome asylum seekers who want to do the right thing and turn themselves in, as well as visit migrant rights advocates.

“It’s my faith that brought me here,” said Quiroz. “What brought me here is trying to make a difference to these individuals every day.”

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