Busloads of asylum seekers begin arriving in Tucson as Biden border policies take effect | Local news

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In 2019, the Casa Alitas shelter could typically accommodate up to 250 asylum seekers, Huckelberry said. Due to restrictions related to the coronavirus, this capacity dropped to 65.

The question that arises is, “What if you are over 65?” Said Huckelberry.

The border patrol told district officials at a recent meeting that asylum seekers could be released from shelters in Tucson, he said.

To prepare for this opportunity, district officials asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency for a grant such as that used in San Diego to rent hotel rooms for asylum seekers, Huckelberry said. These efforts have not yet been successful for Pima County.

So far, the arrival of asylum seekers in Tucson has not strained the resources of Casa Alitas, which works with the City of Tucson and County of Pima, said Diego Piña Lopez, program manager at the shelter.

“We have the opportunity and the space to do this now,” said Piña Lopez.

At the same time, “we are preparing to come closer to the capacities” if a larger number of asylum seekers arrive, he said.

Kozachik said he hoped more residents would volunteer or donate to support the current effort. He also called for a “productive response” from US Sens. Mark Kelly, Kyrsten Sinema and US Reps Ann Kirkpatrick and Raúl Grijalva.

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