DEMING – Deming city councilors declared a state of emergency Monday after hundreds of Central American migrants were released in town by federal authorities seeking to cope with a surge in asylum seekers coming across the southern U.S. border.
Luna County Commission Chair Linda Smrkovsky said the county was considering a similar declaration.
U.S. Border Patrol agents began dropping off migrants in Deming over the weekend. No official count was released Thursday.
City Administrator Aaron Sera said the councilors declared an emergency “in hopes it will trigger assistance from both the federal government and state officials.”
State Senator John Arthur Smith and Representative Candie Sweetser said they have been in constant contact with the governor’s office and the state office of homeland security to get support for the city and county – both manpower and financial support.
Smith said $2.5 million was put in the state’s current fiscal year budget to help with emergency border issues, although state officials said that money has been allocated.
Sweetser said she has been assured from the governor’s office that additional resources and responses are forthcoming from the state.
Meanwhile, the governor and state homeland security secretary will be meeting with city, county and state elected officials from border counties Monday in Las Cruces to provide an update on border operations and the state’s emergency operation plan.
Luna County Commission Chair Linda Smrkovsky said the county was considering a similar declaration.
U.S. Border Patrol agents began dropping off migrants in Deming over the weekend. No official count was released Thursday.
City Administrator Aaron Sera said the councilors declared an emergency “in hopes it will trigger assistance from both the federal government and state officials.”
State Senator John Arthur Smith and Representative Candie Sweetser said they have been in constant contact with the governor’s office and the state office of homeland security to get support for the city and county – both manpower and financial support.
Smith said $2.5 million was put in the state’s current fiscal year budget to help with emergency border issues, although state officials said that money has been allocated.
Sweetser said she has been assured from the governor’s office that additional resources and responses are forthcoming from the state.
Meanwhile, the governor and state homeland security secretary will be meeting with city, county and state elected officials from border counties Monday in Las Cruces to provide an update on border operations and the state’s emergency operation plan.
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