Florida prepares for influx of immigrants from Mexico border

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Officials in South Florida say they are preparing for an influx of immigrants being sent by the federal government as the number of migrants arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border grows rapidly.

Broward County Mayor Mark Bogen said Thursday that officials in his community and neighboring Palm Beach County were alerted by the federal government that more than 100 immigrants would be sent weekly to each of the two counties by plane starting in about two weeks.

Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said he was notified of the plans by the Miami-based office of the U.S. Border Patrol, and that a total of 1,000 people per month would be brought to the two counties from the El Paso, Texas area. He said immigrant parents and children would be processed in both Florida counties, given a notice to appear in court and then released into the community.

The federal government has run out of space to process the thousands of immigrants who have been arriving at the border, and has to fly migrants to Border Patrol facilities in other locations that have room.

The migrants are typically processed, released and given a court date in a city where they plan to reside, often with family members. Once the immigrants are released, nonprofit organizations in other cities have been stepping in to provide meals and bus tickets to their destinations.

U.S. authorities have already been using buses and aircraft to move migrants to cities both on and away from the border, including Phoenix, Albuquerque, San Antonio and others.

Despite the practice being widespread amid the recent surge of immigrants, Florida leaders from both parties reacted with alarm at the development and put the blame on the Trump administration.

Bogen warned that the influx would strain the county's social services and be harmful for immigrants stranded without money, housing or knowledge of the city. He said officials are reaching out to nonprofits and businesses to find resources and other support.

(Cover: Immigrants from Central America seeking asylum board a bus in San Antonio, April 2, 2019. /AP Photo)

Source(s): AP