Pima County is receiving nearly $22 million in federal funding to continue services to asylum seekers, who come to Tucson and smaller border communities after being released by Border Patrol.
County will avoid street releases at the end of the week, anticipating federal funding from the $650 million, in the border security funding bill, for shelter and services to asylum seekers.
Republican Supervisor Steve Christy said the decision was “kicking the can down the road,” but the four remaining Democrats say the county needs more information on potential alternatives to incarceration.
Pima County continues to warn of pending street releases if Congress doesn’t allot more money for migrant services, even as officials opened the Lukeville port of entry yesterday due to a drop in unauthorized border crossings outside of ports.
Pima County officials express growing concern as the influx of asylum seekers continues while federal funding decreases, raising fears of potential street releases due to funding shortages by May.
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