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Yuma Sector Border Patrol talks migrants' heat concerns, end of Title 42

Yuma Sector Deputy Chief Patrol Agent Dustin Caudle speaks to reporters at a press conference for the Yuma Sector U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Yuma on Thursday, April 28, 2023. Alongside Caudle are Yuma Border Patrol officials, consuls from Mexico in Yuma and Guatemala in Tucson and representatives from Mexican agencies that assist migrants in need.
Victor Calderón/KAWC
Yuma Sector Deputy Chief Patrol Agent Dustin Caudle speaks to reporters at a press conference for the Yuma Sector U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Yuma on Thursday, April 28, 2023. Alongside Caudle are Yuma Border Patrol officials, consuls from Mexico in Yuma and Guatemala in Tucson and representatives from Mexican agencies that assist migrants in need.

Officials with the Yuma Sector of U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Thursday that migrants who cross through the border region are in danger of overheating in the desert.

Deputy Chief Patrol Agent Dustin Caudle said migrants are welcome to present themselves at ports of entry, however, Border Patrol agents are ready to respond when rescues are needed.

“We do go out there and rescue anybody in need," Deputy Chief Caudle told KAWC. "We have placards and rescue beacons… and Border Patrol agents or our local partners will be responding… so everyone that needs help will receive it.”

Caudle’s remarks came at a press conference that included officials from the Consulate of Mexico in Yuma and the Consulate of Guatemala in Tucson. Mexican aide-groups were also on hand to warn against extreme heat conditions in the months ahead.

The deputy chief says Yuma Sector BP is preparing for a surge as Title 42 restrictions limiting processing are expected to end in early May.

He said they are preparing for the worst as the Title 42 migrant protocol is set to expire. The agency is already seeing an increase in migrant traffic.

Caudle said he could not estimate specific numbers of what Yuma County could see but did say the Yuma Sector currently sees about 500 apprehensions a day. That’s up from recent months.

“We are preparing for an increase in cross-border traffic at the end of Title 42," he told KAWC. "I think everyone across the southwest border is. However, we’ve got increased personnel. We have increased capacity. We’ve made great advancements in our processing capabilities so we are ready for the influx and we’ll continue to do our job each and every day.”

Title 42 is the pandemic-era policy that allowed Border Patrol to keep migrants from entering the U.S. It’s set to end May 11.

Deputy Chief Caudle said about 90 percent of migrants apprehended in the Yuma Sector are not from Mexico.

CBP officials said they have made 346 desert and water rescues so far in this fiscal year. For recoveries, there were 52 in all of 2022 and 15 so far this year.

Dulce Maria Valle Alvarez, the Mexican consul in Yuma, said the local consulate notifies Mexican migrants of their rights. She said shelters including the Casa Del Migrante La Divina Providencia in San Luis Rio Colorado, Mexico may get full when Title 42 ends.

Among the agencies in Yuma Thursday was C5 from Sonora. That's the Centro de Comando, Control, Cómputo, Comunicaciones y Contacto Ciudadano or Control, Command, Communication, Computer and Quality Center.

Victor is originally from West Sacramento, California and has lived in Arizona for more than five years. He began his print journalism career in 2004 following his graduation from Georgetown University in Washington D.C. Victor has been a reporter for the following daily newspapers: The Monterey County Herald, The Salinas Californian and the Reno Gazette-Journal, where he covered stories including agriculture, education and Latino community news. Victor has also served as a local editor for Patch, a national news organization with hyperlocal websites, in Carmichael, California in the Sacramento area. He also served as the editor for The New Vision, the newspaper for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson, which includes Yuma and La Paz counties. Victor lives in Somerton. He enjoys spending time with his family and friends and following most sports.
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