The Latest: 500 migrants arrested in New Mexico in 24 hours
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - The Latest on refugees in New Mexico (all times local):
4:15 p.m.
Another 500 migrants have been taken into custody in less than 24 hours along the border in southern New Mexico.
The U.S. Border Patrol says a group of 218 migrants from Central America was spotted at the Antelope Wells Port of Entry after midnight Thursday. A second group of 302 people was reported before midnight just east of Mount Cristo Rey near Sunland Park.
The agency says the migrants were taken into custody and provided medically screening.
Authorities say the El Paso sector, which includes part of West Texas and all of New Mexico, documented over 1,700 apprehensions on Thursday.
Officials say this fiscal year to date the El Paso Sector has arrested more than 109,000 migrants, compared to over 14,000 during the same time last fiscal year.
Noon
Elected leaders in New Mexico's most populous county are pledging $100,000 in behavioral health tax revenues to help asylum-seekers as officials in southern New Mexico are seeking more volunteers to help with the ongoing surge of migrants.
More than 100 migrants were released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Las Cruces on Friday, and city officials say the influx is straining resources.
They put out a call late Thursday, saying the need for fresh volunteers and donations was urgent.
In less than a month, about 4,200 migrants have been served in Las Cruces.
In Bernalillo County, officials plan to use the tax money to fund services, classes and resources for young migrants and their parents as they wait in Albuquerque before leaving to meet sponsors elsewhere in the U.S.
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