Arizona will receive more than $45.4 million in federal funding to help pay for costs associated with a surge in undocumented migrants next week with the termination of Title 42.
The pandemic era protocol has been used by the Biden and Trump Administrations to deport some asylum seekers.
The policy ends on Thursday.
The federal funding, part of the Emergency Food and Shelter Program, will be distributed to non-profits and communities along the US-Mexico border.
The money is intended to provide critical assistance to migrants and to prevent migrants from being released onto the streets following their interactions with Border Patrol agents at the border.
U.S. Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly say the funding is being reallocated from the Shelter and Services Program to the Emergency Food and Shelter Program.
U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego this past week sent four letters to administration officials and Congress after hearing from leaders in Arizona’s border communities. Congressman Gallego, who has visited San Luis and Yuma in recent months and is running for the U.S. Senate, requested resources border cities need before the pandemic-era policy ends May 11.
Gallego did not specify which border leaders he spoke with.
A Yuma Sector Border Patrol deputy chief told KAWC recently that agents here are preparing for a surge in migrants.
Volunteers with the Arizona-California Humanitarian Coalition tell KAWC they anticipate having more volunteers and supplies if there is a change in asylum numbers.
San Luis Mayor Nieves Riedel told KAWC city police are ready to assist as needed.
Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls has said we could see as many as 1,000 migrants a day. Yuma Sector officials said they are seeing about 500 migrants a day. That's up from recent months.
