YUMA, Arizona – Local law enforcement officials describe themselves as overwhelmed after a surge of illegal immigrants passed through one border city.
Last week, more than 6,000 people crossed through Yuma.
Hundreds of illegal immigrants are crossing through a gap in the unfinished border wall in Yuma each day.
The sheriff’s office, the Arizona National Guard and families in Yuma are all concerned about the unprecedented number of people crossing illegally.
“The best way I can describe the border right now is chaos. Absolute chaos,” said Maj. Eben Bratcher, operations chief of the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office.
Col. Matthew Stubbs said the surge of immigrants is the largest he’s seen in his career.
“This is going on 24 hours a day,” adds Yuma resident Dennis Cook.
It’s also affecting the farming industry.
Yuma supplies 90% of the country’s lettuce during winter.
It’s not uncommon for border crossers to make their way through the fields, damaging crops.
Despite the “border crisis,” Nicholls says Yuma is safe.
“There’s no hesitation for me living in Yuma with my family,” Nicholls said. “It’s just we have a different dynamic we need to make sure we’re staying on top of, and that’s what we’re doing.”
Ashley Soriano joined Fox News in 2021 as a multimedia reporter based in Las Vegas.
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