FRESNO, Calif. ( KGPE/KSEE ) – Fresno’s mayor says the Venezuelan immigrants who unexpectedly arrived in Fresno over the weekend need to be transported back to El Paso to “go through the legal process there.”
Dyer’s comments came after the Fresno Mission announced Thursday the non-profit is providing housing to three families, including four children, for a total of 16 people.
19 Venezuelans dropped in Fresno from southern border, Fresno Mission wants help
During a press conference on Friday, Mayor Jerry Dyer said the group of immigrants were placed on a bus in El Paso, Texas, and were given options on where they would like to go – and chose Denver, Colorado. Once they arrived in Denver, they were transported to Fresno. Dyer revealed that many of them thought they were going to Indio in Riverside County.
Immigration services and attorneys have also been contacted.
“These are not refugees, these are asylum seekers,” said Dyer. “These are people who have fled their country for whatever reason. They have not been established yet legally as refugees. And what we are doing in the City of Fresno is somewhat of a triage, and that is to make sure that they have their health needs met, to make sure that they have food, some temporary shelter and services provided to them.”