Migrants in the dozens will be releasing into a rural community of Southern Arizona. According to the Yuma Mayor Douglas Nicholls in Arizona, it’s leaving local leaders on the edge. Therefore, they are not able to handle it to do so.

It’s still attractive to many newcomers to try and cross yet the borders are still closed. Moreover, it’s causing some confusion and a battle in border towns. This is going on as the Biden administration starts to focus on immigration reform.

Migrants and Detention Facilities

While detention facilities are filling up fast in a region of Arizona there are still strict social-distancing guidelines that are forcing immigration officials to release some of the migrants into a town with a date to appear in court later.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Border Encounters

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) told Fox News in a statement: “Since April 2020, CBP has seen a steady increase of border encounter. They have been aggravating by COVID-19 restrictions as well as social distancing guidelines. Therefore, this has caused some facilities to reach maximum safe holding capacity. When, in fact, long-term holding solutions aren’t possible, per a longstanding practice, some migrants will be processed for removal. Then they will be providing a Notice to Appear. Next, released into the U.S. to await a future immigration hearing. Balancing it against the ongoing pandemic, as the administration reviews the current immigration process. We, in fact, will continue to use all current authorities to avoid keeping individuals in a congregate setting for any length of time.”

Influx of Newcomers

The border town isn’t prepared to handle an influx of newcomers according to Mayor Douglas Nicholls.

“They have been releasing into the community, in about the last week, over a week, we’ve had about 170 people so far released into the community. Yet, we don’t have a shelter system. In fact, we don’t really have any sort of resources really set up to address those needs. Then, help with the transition to their ultimate location,” Nicholls said.