Yuma mayor says Biden’s new immigration order is step in right direction

YUMA, AZ (AZFamily) — The Yuma mayor is weighing in on President Joe Biden’s immigration policy, which will have a direct impact on the local border patrol.

How dramatic that impact will be is yet to be seen.

Biden’s executive action forces asylum seekers to enter through a port of entry using the CBP One application.

It’s a process that can sometimes take months, which is why many choose to enter the U.S. illegally through remote areas.

The policy has received mixed reviews.

John Wilson lives in Yuma and is a pastor in San Luis Rio Colorado in Mexico.

With the election around the corner, Wilson questioned Biden’s motives.

“I think he’s done the opposite for three years and right at the last minute he does something in the other direction so it doesn’t seem very sincere,” he said.

Wilson said he crosses the San Luis Port of Entry regularly and often talks to asylum seekers who are camped out on the Mexican side of the border.

“My heart goes out to everyone seeking asylum. They have some real issues,” he said.

Yuma Mayor Douglas Nicholls said executive action should have been taken three years ago but said it’s a step in the right direction.

“Until you start pushing back on the wave of people and those that truly don’t have a claim, that discourages people from coming through and hopefully those that do have an asylum issue they’re going through the port of entry instead of trying to come through the border without any sort of appointment or ability to be received correctly,” said Nicholls.

He also said the policy would help relieve some of the burden on the Yuma border patrol, which has been helping neighboring sectors like Tucson and San Diego.

“Right now our numbers are down locally but we’re still receiving migrants from other sectors to help with processing. It keeps our facility full and it keeps our staff at border patrol running at full capacity. It’s very difficult,” he said.

The mayor also commented on HCR 2060, also known as the Secure the Border Act, which will be on Arizonans’ November ballot.

He said he liked some aspects of it but is concerned about the potential impacts on Yuma police.

“I like the concept but the elements are very concerning because it mandates the local government to step in. It creates an unfunded mandate. Our law enforcement, we’re already working hard at getting our numbers up and that would add another new layer of other laws that we would have to find ways to deal with and no new funding to support it,” he said.

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