Sens. Ron Griggs, Bill Burt visit Chaparral detention center

New Mexico State Senators Ron Griggs (R) and William "Bill" Burt (R) made their first visit to the Otero County Processing Center on Thursday, May 25.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Otero County Processing Center houses more than 50 migrants, who often are awaiting processing or decisions on their applications for asylum.

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“There are many people that come into the U.S., that want help and we can all do our best to solve the problems they face when they come, but there is always a chance of someone that might be a part of a cartel or might be problematic for our cities or towns and that’s what they crack down on," Griggs said.

Griggs and Burt visited the intake area and the housing building at the facility, where they saw the accommodations made for the people at the processing center like a barbershop and gym.

“It was a pleasure having Sen. Griggs and Sen. Burt visit us at the Otero County Processing Center and have them see what great things are available for those men and women under our care,” Warden Dora Castro said.

According to the ICE site, “The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) mission is to protect the homeland through the arrest and removal of those noncitizens who undermine the safety of our nation’s communities and the integrity of U.S. immigration laws.”

Both senators also met with medical personnel to find out about the medical services they offer.

“Our on-site medical personnel provide the necessities that any of our residents may need. This includes any serious or minor problems,” Arlette Villa community relations manager said. “Sometimes we get people that have not seen a doctor, ever, and they have a lot of chronic problems we help with.”

Griggs said the medical needs provided by the detention center often are those which residents may not have received from their countries.

“They provide them with dental care, doctor visits if they need it, once they enter, they all get physicals,” Griggs said. “It certainly is remarkable for people that may have been on the go for months at a time while traveling.”

Castro said people held at the facility are typically housed for about three months.

"While the men and women who are under our care at the Otero County Processing Center typically are here for a short period of time, we want to provide them with opportunities to keep themselves busy while they await information on their cases," Castro said.

Both Senators had the chance to speak with people staying at the processing center.

Griggs said that many of the men and woman he spoke with had similar stories of migrating from their countries of origin to the U.S.

“You know for people like us that live over here, we don’t have the challenges that some of these people do,” Griggs said. “And some of their countries are in states of upheaval but we sympathize with them and hear their stories. Places like this detention center just make sure them crossing is all done legally.”

Juan Corral can be reached at JCorral@gannett.com or on twitter at @Juan36Corr.