WASHINGTON — On Friday, Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls met with White House officials and withdrew an April 2019 local State of Emergency proclamation regarding the ongoing security and humanitarian crisis on the Southwest border.
Today, in a mtg with Acting Deputy Sec. of @HomelandKen, I withdrew the State of Emergency proclaimed in April. Grateful for the federal efforts that allowed me to do so by the Trump Administration including those implemented by @DHSgov. A momentous day for Yuma. #UnitedForYuma https://t.co/IbHWDBRzF8
— Douglas Nicholls (@MayorNicholls) December 20, 2019
In April 2019, Nicholls officially issued the emergency proclamation after the massive flow of illegal immigration caused thousands of illegal aliens to be released into Yuma.
According to Nicholls, the Trump Administration deserves credit for confronting the crisis. “I am grateful to be able to withdraw the Proclamation of Emergency due to the Trump Administration’s policy changes that diminish the flow of the migrant family units to the Yuma area and prevent releases into the Yuma community,” said Mayor Nicholls.
“The president’s strategy to address the crisis at the Southern border, particularly Central American families illegally flooding across the border, has worked and we are seeing an impact in border towns across the country,” said Acting Deputy Secretary Cuccinelli. “The number of Central American family units apprehended has decreased by 85% since the height of the crisis in May. And thanks to a number of policies we implemented, we have ended catch and release and are returning, removing and repatriating more aliens from the border than ever before. Now, communities like Yuma are directly seeing the effect of our efforts. We are pleased to stand alongside Mayor Nicholls and to work together to secure the border and protect the American people.”