Health and municipal leaders in southern Arizona appeared before Congress this week to talk about how their communities are responding to the increase in migrants and asylum seekers along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The hearing was before the Subcommittee on Government Operations and Border Management, which is chaired by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema.

Dr. Francisco Garcia, deputy Pima County administrator and chief medical examiner, told lawmakers county officials have worked with the city of Tucson and local aid groups since 2019, assist asylum seekers with things like medical screenings, transportation, and short-term shelter.

He said those efforts continue today, but should be a federal responsibility. 

"But absent that sort of direct federal engagement, I implore you at a minimum to find a better way to fund local governments and organizations who are shouldering this burden," he said.

Garcia was joined by Yuma Mayor Douglas Nichols, Sierra Vista Mayor Clea Mccaa II and Kevin Hearod, McAlester police chief in Oklahoma.

Border communities helping asylum seekers have been given federal funds from agencies like FEMA over the last few years, but some say it’s inconsistent and untimely. 

Seeking asylum at the border is a right under U.S. law, but has been widely restricted because of the pandemic-era protocol Title 42. Federal and local officials expect numbers to increase at the border when the protocol ends next month.