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Salvation Army closes shelter in Yuma due to fewer migrants

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Posted at 10:22 AM, Jul 20, 2019
and last updated 2019-07-20 20:33:32-04

YUMA, Ariz. (AP) - A drop in the number of Central American migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border in the Yuma area has prompted the Salvation Army to use hotel rooms instead of operating a shelter.

Capt. Jeff Breazeale told the Yuma Sun that the Salvation Army continues to provide services but is saving on the expense of operating the shelter in a former thrift store in a strip mall.

The shelter opened in March as the number of families crossing the border soared to more than 300 people nightly in May.

Agent Jose Garibay, a spokesman for the Border Patrol's Yuma Sector, said a downward trend in the number of migrants being detained for illegally crossing the border became evident in June.