[Editor's Note: This is re-published with permission from the author of this article. For photos and more information on how Deming is dealing with the crisis, please visit the above link and find other links to pertinent articles.]
Billy Armendariz, Deming Headlight Published 8:00 a.m. MT May 27, 2019
DEMING – The Deming City Council will allocate $1 million in funding for sheltering migrant asylum seekers.
A resolution was approved in an emergency meeting held at noon Friday, May 24, at the John Strand Municipal Building, 309 S. Gold St.
Council members Dr. Victor Cruz, Joe “Butter” Milo and David Sanchez voted yes on the resolution, with Deming Mayor Benny Jasso approving the motion to allocate the funds.
The $1 million will come from the FY 2018-19 General Fund which held a balance of $11 million and will now sit at $10 million temporarily.
Chief city financial officer Laura Holguin said the funding for the migrant emergency relief is reimbursable, initially through state funding, and possibly federal dollars depending on the outcome of New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s trip to Washington last week.
The budget adjustment is itemized to include:
$215,300 for overtime for city employees (safety officers and sanitation)
$50,000 for transportation expenses
$69,700 for maintenance of buildings and vehicles
$250,000 for supplies
$65,000 for telephone and utilities
$105,800 for buildings and structures, non-capital expenditures (including purchase of cots and tents)
$444,200 for a lease purchase.
After shelters in El Paso filled to capacity, the US Border Patrol has been dropping off asylum seekers in Las Cruces and Deming over the past month, leaving local governments to figure out temporary shelter plans.
Most of the migrants are asylum seekers from Central America who will stay here for a few days while making travel arrangements to other parts of the United States.
Deming has been housing migrants at the Southwestern New Mexico State Fairgrounds since Monday, May 13. They recently began housing migrants at the Deming Airport hangars in the Industrial Park area near the fairgrounds.
City Administrator Aaron Sera said Lujan Grisham indicated that the influx of asylum seekers could stretch over an 18- to 24-month period in southern New Mexico. Lujan Grisham visited the fairgrounds in Deming on Friday to assess the situation. He also said the governor is working on state and federal plans that would take the burden off local municipalities funding the sheltering of migrants.
Sera also noted that the New Mexico National Guard Armory at 700 S. Pearl has also been approved for use as a migrant shelter. Its capacity is 200.
Tents have also been ordered and should arrive next week, according to Sera. The tents will be used at the abandoned Army National Guard Forward Operating Base that was active back in 2006 during Operation Jump Start when President George W. Bush sent troops to the border to observe and report on the escalating drug war in Mexico.
Councilman Cruz noted that the budget adjustment for the sheltering of the migrants may come under fire from the community.
“The core mission of City Council is protecting the health and safety of its citizens,” Cruz said. “We are keeping the asylum seekers from roaming the streets of our city and possibly creating health issues within our community.”
Luna County Assistant Manager Chris Brice told the Headlight that the number of asylum seekers arriving in Deming has dropped off in recent days. “They were coming in 200 to 250 daily and now we are seeing about 150 to 175 a day,” Brice said. The total as of Friday, May 24, has been in the range of 3,100.
Brice said the process of getting asylum seekers transferred to sponsors around the country is moving smooth. “We learned from the school of hard knocks.”
More: Mimbres Food Mart helping immigrants find their way
The Memorial Day weekend could put a strain on the migrant operation in Deming. Volunteer help could be limited by weekend plans. Brice is reaching out to anyone interested in volunteering to come out to the fairgrounds at 4300 Raymond Reed Blvd. Bilingual help is also needed.
Bill Armendariz can be reached at 575-546-2611 (ext. 2606) or biarmendariz@demingheadlight.com,