Thread: ICE released 18,500 immigrants into Arizona in span of 3 months

ICE released 18,500 immigrants into Arizona in span of 3 months

BY KTAR.COM
MARCH 28, 2019 AT 5:55 AM


(KTAR News Photo/Nailea Leon)

PHOENIX — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement released 18,500 immigrants from federal detention into Arizona in the span of three months, the agency told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Wednesday.

Between Dec. 21 and March 20, ICE released a total of 108,500 immigrants into the U.S.

“The sheer volume of family units crossing the border has overwhelmed ICE’s limited transportation resources; combined with a requirement to detain these individuals for no more than 20 days, the agency has no option but to expeditiously arrange for their release,” the agency said in a statement.

“ICE makes every attempt to coordinate the release of these individuals with NGOs that provide assistance with basic needs, but the heavy influx in recent months has inundated these organizations as well.

Related Links

• Ducey calls out federal government for handling of released migrants
• Gov. Doug Ducey calls on Congress to help Arizona with released migrants
• St. Vincent de Paul of Arizona tests a temporary relief center for migrants
• Valley pastor pleads for help housing asylum seekers released by ICE
• Phoenix director: ICE not legally obligated to house released migrants

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey called out the federal government Wednesday for the way it has handled the release of migrants into the state.

He told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Mac & Gaydos that the federal government needs to better communicate when and where it plans to drop people off so nonprofits and churches can prepare to assist them.

The groups generally provide migrants with resources, help them make travel plans to connect with family members and sometimes provide temporary shelter.

Ducey called on Congress last week to take action on what he calls a humanitarian crisis in the state.

Mesa Pastor Magdalena Schwartz told KTAR News last week that she and the volunteers she works with were completely overwhelmed with the numbers.

Schwartz’s network of metro Phoenix churches have housed thousands of migrants over the past five or so months, and she said she wanted to see the governor’s office or the city of Phoenix provide a facility to care for migrants.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Arizona tested a temporary relief center in Phoenix last week in an effort to provide migrants with basic necessities.

However, the group is unable to provide overnight shelter and can only serve about 100 people per day.

Michael Stancliff with the Phoenix Restoration Project said his group isn’t feeling the strain, as it’s continually getting more volunteers.

“For every church that pulls back there’s another one that steps up,” he told KTAR News last week.

Henry Lucero, the Phoenix field director for ICE, told KTAR News last week that it has no legal obligation to house migrants it releases.

“I know it’s not sustainable. They’re doing it with volunteer support and volunteer donations,” he said.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Martha Maurer contributed to this report.

https://ktar.com/story/2506734/ice-r...n-of-3-months/

We are not their Travel Agent...not one dime of our money to pay for transportation, hotel, food, medical care or anything else.

It is outrages to expect taxpayers to pay for any of this!

They are not authorized to be here, they are NOT our citizens, and they have no right to get anything paid for with our tax money.

They paid coyotes to criminally trespass across our border and they can damn well find their own way to wherever they are going!

NO HOUSING! GO HOME!

WE CANNOT AFFORD OUR OWN HOUSING OR MEDICAL CARE!

THEY NEED TO BE TURNED AROUND AND SENT BACK TO MEXICO!