Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls has declared a city state of emergency over the high number of migrants being released into the community who are seeking asylum.
On his mayoral Facebook page, Nicholls wrote "Today I proclaimed a local emergency in Yuma, due to the migrant family releases overwhelming the local shelter system. I am calling upon the federal government to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Yuma, as our NGO’s (non-governmental organizations) are overcapacity and cannot sustain providing this aid."
Nicholls was present at a closed-door meeting April 4 with then-Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen in Yuma on immigration and the response from non-profit organizations including Catholic Charities and the Salvation Army.
Stay tuned to KAWC for more on Mayor Nicholls's declaration.