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Deming City Council declares state of emergency in dealing with influx of immigrants...

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Molly Molloy

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May 14, 2019, 10:54:53 PM5/14/19
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Local reporting from the Deming Headlight.  
Deming City Council declares state of emergency in dealing with influx of immigrants
Billy Armendariz, Deming HeadlightPublished 8:30 a.m. MT May 14, 2019

Border Patrol lets city officials know as many as 600 expected in days to come

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DEMING – City Council members voted Monday to declare a state of emergency that they hope will reach the governor's office in Santa Fe.

Monday's City Council meeting tackled a busy agenda in the chambers of the John Strand Municipal Building, but the attention peaked at the conclusion of the meeting when City Administrator Aaron Sera shed light on the weekend influx of immigrants that were released in Deming by the United States Border Patrol.

At last count, 170 immigrants – all from Central America – have been released in Deming from Border Patrol units in El Paso, TX and Antelope Wells, NM.

"The Border Patrol doesn't care," Sera said during his update on the situation. "They're going to dump them wherever."

The number of immigrants claiming asylum is well over 100 with more coming in daily. Sera was told by the Border Patrol the number could reach as many as 600 in days to come.

Sera said the city and Luna County government is working jointly to get these families and children to sponsors located in all parts of the United States.

Luna County Manager David McSherry was in attendance and chimed in with his take on what he called "asylum seekers."

"The Lordsburg Border Patrol Station dropped off 44 today and the Deming station left another 50. This is not a Republican or Democrat problem. Call your representatives and let them know we have a problem."

City and county officials, along with local organizations and volunteers have been providing around-the-clock vigilance at the Southwestern New Mexico State Fairgrounds where the immigrant population is being held. There are as many as 150 people on watch and providing aid in the form of food items, personal hygiene, towels, blankets and toys for children. The Deming Fire Department is assisting in medical screenings and there have been no known issues with the health of immigrants.

"All families have sponsors and we are communicating with those sponsors to get them transported," Sera said. "Laptops are in use to locate sponsors."

The sponsor of one family of four could not afford travel which amounted to $500. Locals came together and made the trip possible.

"This shouldn't be our problem, but it is," Sera said. The option would have been to let the waves on immigrants on the streets of Deming but Sera could not see that with the children involved.

Local officials know a crisis is at hand with more immigrant arrivals anticipated in the days to come. The fairgrounds can only hold 100 at a time.

Local churches have provided assistance and Las Cruces is planning to assist in speeding up the process of relocating the immigrants to their sponsors.

Council member Joe "Butter" Milo motioned to declare the city in a state of emergency. Council member Roxana Rincon second the motion and the vote was unanimous.

Bill Armendariz can be reached at 575-546-2611 (ext. 2606) orbiarme...@demingheadlight.com.





Molly Molloy

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May 14, 2019, 11:12:56 PM5/14/19
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Delegation seeks to reimburse border communities providing relief to asylum seekers
Deming Headlight ReportsPublished 8:33 p.m. MT May 14, 2019

Lawmakers request the replenishment of costs for communities providing immigration relief

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DEMING – After recent reports of the U.S. Border Patrol releasing thousands of immigrants into southern New Mexico communities, a democratic-based delegation sent a letter on Tuesday to the leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees asking for state and local governments and local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to be reimbursed for providing relief to asylum seekers.

More: Deming City Council declares state of emergency in dealing with influx of immigrants

More: Local officials temporarily house immigrants at Southwestern New Mexico State Fairgrounds

More: Las Cruces OK's half-million dollars to cover humanitarian assistance for migrants

More: Las Cruces opens center for asylum seekers released by Border Patrol

U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) U.S. Representatives Ben Ray Luján, Xochitl Torres Small and Deb Haaland are the representatives of the delegation.

“It is clear that the federal government’s policies have put a strain on local resources and contributed to the humanitarian crisis along the border,” the New Mexico delegation wrote. “New Mexico and its communities are facing new and unbudgeted costs caring for asylum-seeking migrants, as federal agencies have not provided for their sufficient shelter and humanitarian needs. These costs are expected to continue."

The New Mexico delegation added, “There is bipartisan precedent for such reimbursements to communities relating to providing humanitarian relief to unaccompanied children and adults accompanied by a minor after entering the United States. Given the impact of the humanitarian needs on our southern border, and the strain on state, local, and NGO resources, we believe it is critical that Congress work to ensure that border communities and NGOs are not unduly burdened by the cost of administering emergency aid, which is the more appropriate responsibility of federal agencies.”

The letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees reads as follows:

Dear Colleagues:

As Congressional and Appropriations Committee leaders continue working on a disaster supplemental appropriations bill, which may also address southern border related agency funding requests, we respectfully request the inclusion of the necessary legislative provisions and funding to reimburse state and local governments and local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for costs incurred providing humanitarian relief to asylum seekers who have arrived at the southern border, many of whom are fleeing terror and violence in their home nations.

It is clear that the federal government’s policies have put a strain on local resources and contributed to the humanitarian crisis along the border. According to recent reports, U.S. Border Patrol has released over 4,000 migrants applying for asylum in the United States in Las Cruces since April 12. New Mexico and its communities are facing new and unbudgeted costs caring for asylum-seeking migrants, as federal agencies have not provided for their sufficient shelter and humanitarian needs. These costs are expected to continue.

As you are aware, migration flows from Central America to the United States are often due to unimaginable violence, corruption, extreme poverty, and instability in their home countries. We fundamentally believe that we are a nation that does not turn our back on the innocent victims of persecution abroad and commend our state and local communities for stepping up, volunteering, and serving asylum seekers in need.

There is bipartisan precedent for such reimbursements to communities relating to providing humanitarian relief to unaccompanied children and adults accompanied by a minor after entering the United States. Given the impact of the humanitarian needs on our southern border, and the strain on state, local, and NGO resources, we believe it is critical that Congress work to ensure that border communities and NGOs are not unduly burdened by the cost of administering emergency aid, which is the more appropriate responsibility of federal agencies.

We urge your support for these funds in the upcoming disaster supplemental bill and stand ready to work with you on this issue.

Thank you for your consideration of our request.




On Tuesday, May 14, 2019 at 8:54:53 PM UTC-6, Molly Molloy wrote:
Deming City Council declares state of emergency in dealing with influx of immigrants
Billy Armendariz, Deming HeadlightPublished 8:30 a.m. MT May 14, 2019

Border Patrol lets city officials know as many as 600 expected in days to come

CONNECTTWEETLINKEDINCOMMENTEMAILMORE
Buy Photo

City of Deming Administrator Aaron Sera, left, and Deming Mayor Benny Jasso prior to Monday's City Council meeting. (Photo: Bill Armendariz - Headlight Photo)

DEMING – City Council members voted Monday to declare a state of emergency that they hope will reach the governor's office in Santa Fe.

Monday's City Council meeting tackled a busy agenda in the chambers of the John Strand Municipal Building, but the attention peaked at the conclusion of the meeting when City Administrator Aaron Sera shed light on the weekend influx of immigrants that were released in Deming by the United States Border Patrol.

At last count, 170 immigrants – all from Central America – have been released in Deming from Border Patrol units in El Paso, TX and Antelope Wells, NM.

"The Border Patrol doesn't care," Sera said during his update on the situation. "They're going to dump them wherever."

The number of immigrants claiming asylum is well over 100 with more coming in daily. Sera was told by the Border Patrol the number could reach as many as 600 in days to come.

Sera said the city and Luna County government is working jointly to get these families and children to sponsors located in all parts of the United States.

Buy Photo

Luna County Manager David McSherry addresses the council members at Monday's Deming City Council meeting. (Photo: Bill Armendariz - Headlight Photo)

Luna County Manager David McSherry was in attendance and chimed in with his take on what he called "asylum seekers."

"The Lordsburg Border Patrol Station dropped off 44 today and the Deming station left another 50. This is not a Republican or Democrat problem. Call your representatives and let them know we have a problem."

City and county officials, along with local organizations and volunteers have been providing around-the-clock vigilance at the Southwestern New Mexico State Fairgrounds where the immigrant population is being held. There are as many as 150 people on watch and providing aid in the form of food items, personal hygiene, towels, blankets and toys for children. The Deming Fire Department is assisting in medical screenings and there have been no known issues with the health of immigrants.

"All families have sponsors and we are communicating with those sponsors to get them transported," Sera said. "Laptops are in use to locate sponsors."

The sponsor of one family of four could not afford travel which amounted to $500. Locals came together and made the trip possible.

"This shouldn't be our problem, but it is," Sera said. The option would have been to let the waves on immigrants on the streets of Deming but Sera could not see that with the children involved.

Local officials know a crisis is at hand with more immigrant arrivals anticipated in the days to come. The fairgrounds can only hold 100 at a time.

Local churches have provided assistance and Las Cruces is planning to assist in speeding up the process of relocating the immigrants to their sponsors.

Council member Joe "Butter" Milo motioned to declare the city in a state of emergency. Council member Roxana Rincon second the motion and the vote was unanimous.

Bill Armendariz can be reached at 575-546-2611 (ext. 2606) orbiarmendariz@demingheadlight.com.





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