Photo: John Moore / Getty Images
For: EFE
TUCSON, Arizona – The Mayor of Gila Bend, Chris Riggs declared a state of emergency in his community on Tuesday after the federal government began releasing groups of migrants, and assures that
“I am declaring a state of emergency to obtain the necessary resources to attend to the people who are being released here in Gila Bend for the Border Patrol, ”Riggs said. The emergency declaration will go into effect tonight.
The mayor indicated that yesterday in his community they were released 16 migrants, despite the fact that their city has not received any financial assistance from the Administration of President Joe Biden to assist or transport the migrants.
In this case, the city had to “borrow” two vans and claims that it had to transport them to a shelter in Phoenix, otherwise They would have been left alone in a park not knowing where to go.
Gila Bend, in southwestern Arizona, is not a border community: it is just over 200 miles from the border. However, the Border Patrol has begun releasing migrants in this city, which has about 2, 000 inhabitants.
One of the mayor’s concerns is the covid pandemic – 19 and if the migrants being released are carriers of the virus .
He assured that trying to find transportation for the migrants, several organizations told him they require a negative covid test – before providing their services.
According to the mayor, just provide food, water and a covid test – 19 to migrants could cost more than half a million dollars to the city in one year.
“We urgently need help, now Either from the county (Maricopa), the state or the federal government, ”Riggs concluded.
Last month only, the Border Patrol arrested more than 80, 01 immigrants along the border, which represents an increase in 28% compared to January.
Although the Biden Administration ensures that most migrants continue to be deported as soon as they are arrested due to the emergency declaration for the covid pandemic – released.
