The Regional Center for Border Health in Somerton, Arizona, a critical refuge for migrants post-processing by US Border Patrol, faces a funding feud threatening its operations, ABC15 reports. The non-profit organization which aids migrants by providing essentials such as food, water, and COVID testing, has been self-funding due to insufficient reimbursements from the federal government, potentially leading to a shutdown by April 1.
With a daily influx averaging a few busloads up to as many as 17 or 18 buses during peak times, the center has become indispensable in providing transitions for nearly 2,000 migrants at times who, aside from seeking asylum, are desperate for humanity’s touch at the end of their arduous journeys. As stated in a ABC15 interview, migrants like Marisol Ocampo from Colombia have sought out the U.S. for a chance at life beyond the endemic violence and economic despair of their homelands.
Management challenges have become dire, the center’s President and CEO Amanda Aguirre admitting, “We already provided close to about half a million dollars or more of 'in-kind support,' for things that FEMA doesn't reimburse," according to a statement obtained by ABC15. Such unreimbursed costs include overtime, employee benefits, and medications, expenses the organization continues covering to avoid what the community refers to as "street releases" of migrants with nowhere to turn.
The Department of Homeland Security has called on Congress to pass bipartisan border security legislation, which includes provisions for Shelter and Services Program (SSP) funding, while affirming nearly $1 billion in federal grants awarded across the country to aid communities with processing migrants, as reported by ABC15. It notes Yuma County received over $21 million in such grants, yet shortfalls remain, with the DHS warning that a lack of necessary funding could compromise vital operations and further burden U.S. cities and communities welcoming migrants. Meanwhile, Senator Mark Kelly has voiced concern over the strain on Arizona's resources, pledging ongoing efforts to procure additional federal aid for the crisis.
On a humanitarian level, community liaison for the Regional Center, Alex Bejarano, told ABC15, "It's easier to see buses or numbers, but we see the human face and we see the suffering a lot of them have been through," emphasizing the deep emotional impact the migrant surge has had on his team and the community at large. Governor Katie Hobbs also weighed in, urging Congress to prioritize practical solutions over political maneuvers and underscored the dire need for additional support for organizations like the Regional Center that are at the brink of being unable to sustain their critical services beyond April 2024.
