Yuma Border Patrol Chief: Migrant fears have risen, agents follow COVID-19 protocols

With increasing reports of migrant concerns on the U.S.-Mexico border, we wanted to ask our local Yuma Sector Border Guard who are the migrants arrested here in the San Luis and Yuma areas. KAWC’s Victor Calderón spoke to Chief Patrol Agent Chris Clem in his first local media interview since taking office in late December, to put into perspective what an increase in fears looks like here.

Chris Clem, Chief Patrol Agent for the Yuma Sector Border Patrol, spoke to KAWC in his first local media interview since taking office on December 20.

Chief Clem said at the time last year, when the COVID-19 pandemic began, the Yuma sector only feared more than 7,000 migrants. This year, to date, there are more than 9,500 fears. In October, the Yuma sector had an average of 25 arrests a day. The number of fears has increased daily since then, and according to Clem, the Yuma sector averages 400 arrests a day in March.

“We went from something sensible to a big spike,” said Clem.

The chief said the Yuma sector has seen migrants from the Northern Triangle countries of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras in the past. That includes 2019, when a surge in migrants on the U.S.-Mexico border made international headlines.

Lately the Yuma sector has seen migrants from Brazil, Cuba and even Romania. While local agents used to see mostly single adult men, the sector has seen more family units and unaccompanied children in recent years.

As expected, the numbers fell significantly in 2020 due to the pandemic. In fiscal 2019, the Yuma sector had 7,289 encounters with unaccompanied children, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection statistics. Last year it was just 687, a 91 percent decrease.

In 2019, there were 51,961 family unit encounters in Yuma and San Luis. There were 2,940 encounters last year, a 94 percent decrease.

Chief Clem said COVID protocols are being followed by all agents at all times.

“Certainly, the well-being and safety of my employees, both agents and professionals, are of primary importance, especially as a boss,” said Clem.

This means following the guidelines of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), including wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) and social distancing when possible.

Migrants are medically screened by Border Patrol staff, but not specifically for COVID-19. Temperature tests are carried out. Once a migrant is resolved, he or she continues the border guard process, Clem said. If a migrant has symptoms of the disease, they will be investigated further.

“If there is a problem we will take her to the hospital and take care of it,” said Clem.

There is no compulsory COVID-19 vaccination for Yuma Sector employees, although vaccines are recommended. Clem said he was fully vaccinated and the sector had set up a clinic with the Regional Center for Border Health to encourage staff to get the vaccine.

Arizona Public Media reports that migrants are being transported to shelters like Casa Alitas in Tucson because there are no large migrant shelters in Yuma County, as was the case in 2019. At this shelter, migrants are being tested for COVID-19 thanks to Pima County’s health authorities.

KYMA reports that local organizations like Campesinos Sin Fronteras in Somerton and San Luis have been helping asylum seekers and RCBH has tested them for COVID-19.

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For more news from the border, please contact KAWC.

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