TUCSON, Ariz. (KOLD News 13) - Because so many Haitians who have arrived on the US and Mexican border in Texas, some are being sent to Tucson for processing by the Border Patrol.
It’s estimated nearly 15,000 Haitian refugees are living under a bridge in Del Rio, Texas, more than the Border Patrol can process.
Some are arriving in Tucson by bus while other’s are arriving by air. The groups receiving them say that it’s fairly intermittent and the numbers are unpredictable.
Officials declined to say just how many have arrived in Tucson in the past few days, because there’s some concern about how well received they may be.
They are being processed at the border patrol detention facility which was opened in April near the airport.
Once they are processed, they are then sent to Casa Alitas, a shelter run by Catholic Community Services, which told us this afternoon this is not going to be a long term operation.
They say it will short term until the pressure is relieved along the border in Texas.
The Haitians, once they arrive, will be in Tucson for only a short time.