>>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON ARIZONA "HORIZON," THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC ON THE PROCESS OF BECOMING A U.S. SOUTH.

>>> ON CRONKITE NEWS A LOOK AT THE DESTRUCTION LEFT BY THE TELEGRAPH FIRE.

AND LATER ON BREAK IT DOWN, THE RACIAL GAP INVOLVING PROFESSORS IN HIGHER EDUCATION.

THAT'S ALL COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS.

>>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA "HORIZON."

I'M TEDSIMONS.

THE ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS IN SESSION TODAY VOTING ON NEARLY A DOZEN BUDGET BILLS THAT THE SENATE HAS ALREADY PASSED.

INCLUDING A MASSIVE ACROSS THE BOARD INCOME TAX CUT WHICH THE HOUSE DID APPROVE LATE TODAY.

DEMOCRATS ARE IN ATTENDANCE WHICH IS A CHANGE FROM EARLIER IN THE WEEK.

WHEN DEMOCRATS STAYED AWAY, WHEN THEY FAILED TO ESTABLISH A QUORUM.

THE HOUSE WAS DEBATING WHETHER TO OVERRIDE 22 BILLS EARLIER IN THE SESSION.

>>> DIEGO RODRIGUEZ ANNOUNCED HIS CANDIDACY FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL.

RODRIGUEZ, A FORMER PROSECUTOR, DEFENSE ATTORNEY, AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, SAYS THAT HIS FOCUS WILL BE ON FIGHTING SPECIAL INTERESTS.

TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT COMES ONE DAY AFTER ANOTHER DEMOCRAT, CHRIS MAYS, ANNOUNCED HER BID FOR THE A.G.'S OFFICE.

>>> U.S.

SENATOR KYRSTEN SINEMA WAS CENTER SAGE AS A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF SENATORS STRUCK A DEAL ON A $953BILLION INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE.

SHE APPEARED WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN AT THE WHITEHOUSE AFTER THE DEAL WAS REACHED AND WAS THE FIRST TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE AGREEMENT.

>> THIS DOES REPRESENT AN HISTORIC INVESTMENT IN OUR COUNTRY'S INFRASTRUCTURE AND IT NEEDS TO BE FOLKS WHO LIVE FROM VIRGINIA OUT TO ARIZONA.

IT INVESTS IN GREEN ENERGY AND CLIMATE RECOGNIZING THE CHANGING NATURE OF OUR COUNTRY AND OUR FUTURE.

IT INVESTS IN BROADBAND AND OUR POWER GRID AND STRUCTURES.

>> SHE EMPHASIZED THE BIPARTISAN NATURE OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE AGREEMENT.

>> THE BIPARTS WRAPSHIP-- BIP PARTISANSHIP IS DEAD IN WASHINGTON,D.C., AND THIS COUNTRY.

TWUT THIS AGREEMENT TODAY SHOWS THAT WHEN A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE COMMITTED WITH SHARED VALUES TO SOLVING THE PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES OF OUR COUNTRY FACES, WE CAN USE BIPARTISANSHIP TO SOLVE THESE CHALLENGES.

>> SINEMA HELPED LEAD TALKS TO REACH THE DEAL, WHICH INCLUDES FAR LESS THAN THE $2TRILLION, BUT IT WAS THE ADMINISTRATION'S TOP PRIORITY AND COULD OPEN THE DOOR TO MORE SWEEPING PROPOSALS LATER ON.

>>> PRESIDENT BIDEN IS EXPECTED TO EXTEND THE CDC'S RENT EVICTIONS TO THE END OF JUM.

IT-- JULY.

IT WANTS MORE MONEY TO THE TENANTS AND LANDLORDS.

$50BILLION HAS BEEN ALLOCATED DURING THE PANDEMIC, BUT THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC REPORTS THAT ARIZONA HAS USED LESS THAN 10% OF ITS SHARE.

CNN SAYS IT'S LESS THAN 5%.

>>> EVACUATIONS WERE ISSUED TODAY FOR PINE AND STRAWBERRY AS THE BACKBONE FIRE CONTINUES TO BURN WEST OF THOSE TWO TOWNS.

YESTERDAY'S RAINS HELPED CALM THE FIRE BUT THE FOREST SERVICE SAYS EVACUATIONS ARE LIKELY STAY IN EFFECT FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER WEEK.

BACKBONE FIRE HAS BURNED 40,000 ACRES AND IS ZERO PERCENT CONTAINED.

>>> AND SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS CONTINUE IN SOUTH FLORIDA AFTER A 12-STORY BEACHFRONT CONDOMINIUM PARTIALLY COLLAPSED EARLY THIS MORNING.

IT HAPPENED IN SURFSIDE WHICH IS NORTH OF MIAMI BEACH.

THERE'S BEEN ONE FATALITY REPORTED BUT 99 ARE MISSING AND MANY ARE FEARED DEAD.

THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL SAYS THAT THERE ARE SIGNS THAT PEOPLE ARE TRAPPED IN THE WRECKAGE.

>> THE RESCUERS ARE HEARING SOUNDS FROM THE RUBBLE.

YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IT KIND OF HIT OR MISS.

YOU-- YOU GET INTO A ZONE WHERE YOU'RE SO PASSIONATE AND SO FOCUSED AND SO JUST DETERMINED TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO SAVE A LIFE IN AN EVENT LIKE THIS.

SO YOU KNOW, BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE PATIENCE AND EFFORT IN ORDER TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

IN A SAFE WAY THAT YOU DON'T PUT THOSE THAT ARE RISKING THEIR LIVES OR AT RISK SAVING LIVES.

>> THERE IS STILL NO OFFICIAL CAUSE OF THE PARTIAL COLLAPSE.

INVESTIGATIONS ARE SET TO BEGIN AFTER SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS ARE DPLEELTED.

-- ARE COMPLETED.

>>> THE PROCESS OF BECOMING A U.S. CITIZEN HAS BEEN LIKE MOST OTHER THINGS, GREATLY AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC.

BUT THE DELAYS AND RESCHEDULING IS STARTING TO GET BACK TO NORMAL.

WE LEARN MORE FROM MARIA OF THE U.S.

CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES AND DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.

NARIA, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WELCOME TO ARIZONA "HORIZON."

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PANDEMIC ON THE CITIZENSHIP PROCESS HERE.

I WOULD IMAGINE QUITE AN IMPACT, HUH?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAD TO STOP THE PROCESSING AND INTERVIEWING FOR PEOPLE TO BECOME UNITEDSTATES CITIZENS.

BUT WE'RE NOW HAPPY TO SAY THAT WE'RE ON OUR WAY TO SOME SENSE OF NORMALCY, IF YOU WILL, WHERE WE'RE STARTING TO INTERVIEW PEOPLE AND OFTENTIMES NATURALIZE THEM THE VERY SAME DAY.

SO THAT'S HELPING A LOT WITH WHAT CREATED SOME BACKLOGS.

OBVIOUSLY, THE BACKLOGS DIFFER DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU LIVE.

THE SMALLER THE OFFICE, THE BEST-- SMALLER THE BACKLOG.

THE BIGGER THE OFFICE, THE MORE BACKLOG THAT WE HAVE.

BUT WE'RE GETTING BACK TO SOME SENSE OF NORMALCY.

>> AND AS FAR AS DEMAND AND CAPACITY AT FIELD OFFICES, I THINK YOU JUST ANSWERED THIS QUESTION.

SEEMS LIKE THAT'S THE FACTOR.

IN THE DEMAND IS HIGH AND THE PEOPLE AREN'T THERE, AND PEOPLE ARE STILL NOT THERE BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, MITIGATION EFFORTS, CORRECT?

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT, YES.

>> YEAH.

AND YOU'RE STILL SEEING A BIG DEMAND?

>> YES-- THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A HUGE DEMAND TO BECOME UNITEDSTATES CITIZENS.

THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT ENTERED THE COUNTRY LAWFULLY.

THEY'VE ABIDED BY ALL THE RULES AND REGULATIONS AND REALLY-- THEIR DREAM IS THAT OF BECOMING A UNITED STATES CITIZEN.

-- UNITEDSTATES CITIZEN TO BE ABLE TO VOTE, TO BRING IN FAMILY MEMBERS, SO THAT TRULY IS THE AMERICAN DREAM FOR EVERYBODY.

SO YES, WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE MANY, MANY INDIVIDUALS APPLYING TO BECOME UNITEDSTATES CITIZENS.

>> WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME A UNITEDSTATES CITIZEN?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

YOU HAVE TO BE 18 YEARS OR OLDER.

18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER.

YOU-- OF AGE OR OLDER.

YOU NEED TO BE A LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENT OF THIS COUNTRY.

IN OTHER WORDS, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A GREEN CARD.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE BEEN PHYSICALLY PRESENT IN THE UNITED STATES FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME, SO JUST BE VIGILANT THAT A LOT OF THE TRIPS AND THE LENGTH OF TIME SPENT OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTRY MAY CAUSE YOU TO DELAY YOU BECOMING A UNITEDSTATES CITIZEN.

AND LASTLY, YOU HAVE TO BE STATE RESIDENT FOR ROUGHLY THREE MONTHS BEFORE YOU CAN APPLY TO BECOME A UNITEDSTATES CITIZEN.

>> WHAT QUESTIONS DO YOU HEAR FROM THOSE WHO ARE APPLYING FOR THE PROCESS?

ARE THERE CERTAIN ASPECTS THAT ARE MORE DIFFICULT OR MORE CONFUSING THAN OTHERS?

>> NOT THAT WE WOULD HEAR ABOUT THEM, NECESSARILY, BECAUSE WE HAVE ALL THIS INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE TO INCLUDE THE QUESTIONS AND THE ANSWERS, SO THAT PEOPLE CAN GET THE WEBSITE AND STUDY THE TEST ALONG WITH THE RESPONSES.

SO WITH DO MAKE IT EASE EASY IN A SENSE FOR THEM TO PRACTICE AND TAKE THE TEST AND HOPEFULLY PASS IT.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, THERE ARE ONLINE FILING TOOLS AVAILABLE, CORRECT?

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

>> OKAY.

AND WHERE DO YOU FIND THOSE TOOLS?

>> ON WWW.UCSIS.GOV AND MAKE SURE IT'S GOV AND THAT'S NOT DOTCOM.

THEY'RE NOT FREE TO TRY AND OBTAIN THE BENEFIT, BUT THEY'RE CERTAINLY FREE TO DOWNLOAD.

>> HOW DID THE PANDEMIC IMPACT NATURALIZATION CEREMONIES?

>> A LOT.

YOU KNOW, WE WEREN'T ABLE TO NATURALIZE PEOPLE.

AND THEN WE HAD TO BECOME SOME-- SOMEHOW CREATIVE, IF YOU WILL, SO WE HAD NATURALIZATIONS, THE DRIVE-BY NATURALCISION WHERE THE PERSON-- NATURALIZATION WHERE A PERSON WOULD NOT GET OUT OF THEIR CAR.

AN OFFICER WOULD SWEAR THEM IN.

WE WOULD HOLD THEM OUT AT THE NATIONAL PARKS.

WE HAD TO GET CREATIVE IN ORDER TO CONTINUE THE PROCESS.

ONCE THOSE REQUIREMENTS STARTING EASING A LITTLE BIT.

OBVIOUSLY WHEN THE PANDEMIC FIRST HIT, WE WERE SHUT DOWN JUST LIKE MANY OTHER OFFICES AND BUSINESSES.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, THOSE ARE SUCH EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCES.

YOU'D HATE TO THINK THAT THE LIVE IN-PERSON EXPERIENCE WOULD BE SOMEHOW COMPROMISED.

BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE IT WASN'T FOR QUITE A WHILE.

>> EXAM, EXACTLY.

BUT AGAIN, I HAVE TO EMPHASIZE THE FACT THAT WE ARE-- WE GOT A LITTLE BIT CREATIVE IN-- AND DECIDED ON OTHER WAYS WHERE WE COULD NATURALIZE THESE INDIVIDUALS BECAUSE AGAIN, THIS IS THEIR AMERICAN DREAM.

THIS IS WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD, SO TO SPEAK, AND SO WE UNDERSTAND THE GORGES OF THEM, A, PASSING THE TEST AND WANT BE TO BE SWORN IN AS UNITEDSTATES CITIZENS.

>> AND BACKGROUND CHECKS AND THESE SORT OF THINGS CERTAIN ROADBLOCKS THAT WERE PUT UP IN PREVIOUS YEARS.

WHERE DOES ALL THAT STAND?

>> YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO-- WE HAVE TO FINGERPRINT PEOPLE.

WE HAVE TO RUN THE NECESSARY CHECKS TO ENSURE THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO CAUSE US HARM IN THE UNITEDSTATES.

AND WE WILL NOT COMPROMISE THE SECURITY FOR THE SAKE OF STAMPING AN APPLICATION APPROVED.

SO WE CONTINUE WITH OUR BACKGROUND CHECKS AGAIN TO ENSURE THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT PEOPLE THAT WANT TO CAUSE US HARM IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> LAST QUESTION, MAIA, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME ON THIS.

YOU'RE OPTIMISTIC THINGS ARE GETTING BACK UP TO SPEED?

>> ABSOLUTELY, YES.

YES, I AM.

AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO-- YOU KNOW, TO WORK HARDER AND WORK SMARTER AND AGAIN, IF WE HAVE TO CONTINUE WITH INNOVATIVE IDEAS, WHY NOT.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE AN AGENCY THAT BESTOWS DOCUMENTS AND PEOPLE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WAIT AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF TIME TO RECEIVE HIS OR HER DOCUMENT.

BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO COMPROMISE NATIONAL SECURITY FOR THE SAKE OF RUBBER STAMPING AN APPLICATION.

>> MARIA ELENA UPSON, CITIZEN AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES, GOOD CONVERSATION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANKS.

>>> AND UP NEXT ON ARIZONA "HORIZON," WHY THE GUIDELINES TO BEGIN COLORECTAL SCREENINGS WAS LOWERED TO 45 YEARS OF AGE.

>>> A FEDERAL TEACIAL OVERLY ITS GUIDELINES TO BEGIN COLORECTAL SCREENINGS FROM 50 TO 45 YEARS OF AGE.

THE COAL IS TO DETECT CANCERS EARLIER AND SAVE MORE LIVES.

WE TALKED TO A DOCTOR FROM THE CANCER TREATMENT CENTERS OF AMERICA.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND TALKING ABOUT THIS VERY IMPORTANT SUBJECT HERE.

GUIDELINES BEING LOWERED FOR COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENINGS.

WHY DO YOU THINK THESE GUIDELINES WERE CHANGED?

>> IN THE LAST ONE TO TWO DECADES, BECAUSE OF-- [INAUDIBLE] COLON CANCER HAS BEEN ON THE DECLINE AT THE AGE OF 50.

SO AS THE PERCENTAGES ARE GETTING SMALLER OVER THE AGE OF 50, THE PERCENTAGE OF PATIENTS THAT ARE GETTING COLON CANCER BEFORE THE AGE OF 50 IS BECOMING HIGHER.

IN ADDITION, JUST THE BASELINE RATE BY ITSELF IN PATIENTS YOUNGER THAN 50 IS HIGHER.

SO NOW WE GOT TO A POINT WHERE THIS PROBABLY THE NUMBER OF LIVES SAVED BETWEEN-- BETWEEN THE AGE OF 45 AND 50 IS THE SAME AS BETWEEN THE AGE OF 50 TO 55.

SO MATHEMATICALLY IT MAKES SENSE IF WE AGREE THAT IT'S KANSAS EFFECTIVE, MEANS THE MONEY-- COST EFFECTIVE, MEANS THE MONEY SPENT OF THE TEST OVER THE AGE OF 50 IS GOOD, THEN THERE'S NO REASON NOT TO START THE AGE OF 45 BECAUSE IT'S THE SAME EQUATION.

SO WE THINK GIVEN THE RISE UNDER THE AGE OF 50, THEN IT MAKES SENSE.

IT'S COST EFFECTIVE NOW TO SCREEN AT AN EARLIER AGE.

>> WERE THESE KEEPSES ALWAYS THERE OR-- CANCERS ALWAYS THERE OR HAS SOMETHING CHANGED?

>> SOMETHING HAS CHANGED.

SOMETHING HAS GRADUALLY BEEN CHANGING.

SO COLON CANCER, ES-- ESPECIALLY RECTAL CANCER, IS ON THE RISE IN WHAT WE CALL THE YOUNG ADULTS.

SO THE ADULTS THAT WE DON'T TYPICALLY ASSOCIATE WITH COLON CANCER.

SO THE CANCER AND CHANGING.

THE GUIDELINES ARE KIND OF CATCHING UP TO THE CHANGE.

AND THE CANCER DEMOGRAPHICS.

>> AND WE'RE TALKING PEOPLE WITH AVERAGE RISK, CORRECT?

>> RIGHT.

PEOPLE WITH AVERAGES.

PEOPLE WHO ARE AT INCREASED RISK HAVE DIFFERENT SETS OF GUIDELINES.

SO REALLY-- AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT SCREENING IS IN PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO SYMPTOMS.

I REALLY WANT THE PEOPLE LISTENING TO US TO HEAR, LIKE THE MOST COMMON THING THAT WE HEAR IS LIKE, WHY DO I GET SCREENING.

I HAVE NO PROBLEMS.

IT'S BECAUSE YOU HAVE NO PROBLEMS THAT YOU NEED SCREENING.

IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS, WE CALL IT DICETIC.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE CAUSE OF YOUR PROBLEM.

THE SCREENING IS TO PREVENT CANCER IN PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO PROBLEMS.

THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO HIGHLIGHT.

>> YEAH.

WHAT KIND OF SCREENINGS ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE?

>> SO WE HAVE A LOT OF OPTIONS AVAILABILITY FOR SCREENING.

-- AVAILABLE FOR SCREENING.

THE COMMON-- ONE OF THE MORE COMMON USED-- COMMONLY USED MODALITY.

COLONOSCOPY, IT CAN PREVENT CANCER NOT JUST DETECT IT.

SO IT STARTS IN A POLYP THAT TAKES FIVE, 10 YEARS, SOMETIMES LONGER TO BECOME CANCER.

SO IF YOU REMOVE IT AND THE POLLIDGE STAGE-- IN THE POLYP STAGE, YOU NEVER GET CANCER.

THERE ARE OTHER TESTS LIKE STOOL TESTING THAT CAN DETECT THE PRESENCE OF CANCER OR POLYPS.

AND THESE ARE-- THEY CAN BE DONE AT HOME AS OPPOSED TO A COLONOSCOPY WHICH IS AN INVASIVE TEST THAT YOU HAVE TO COME TO THE HOSPITAL AND GET SEDATION FOR AND HAVE THE PREP.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE A TEST THAT'S ABNORMAL, THEN THE NEXT STEP IS A COOLON OS-- COLONOSCOPY.

>> THAT SUGGESTS SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT FURTHER.

>> CORRECT.

SO COLONOSCOPY GIVES YOU THE ANSWER.

AND IT'S THE ONLY ONE THAT PREVENTS CANCER BY REMOVING THE PRECURSOR OF THE CANCER, THE POLYP.

>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AVERAGE RISK HERE.

UP TO-- LOWERING THE AGE DOWN TO 45.

WHAT ABOUT THE UPPER LEVELS?

WHEN DO DOCTORS SAY IT'S REALLY NOT WORTH GOING THROUGH ALL THIS ANYMORE?

>> YEAH.

IN PEOPLE WHO HAVE REGULAR SCREENINGS OR IF SOMEONE IS GETTING A COLONOSCOPY EVERY FIVE YEARS OR 10 YEARS, WHEN YOU GET TO 75, PROBABLY THE BENEFIT IS NOT THAT GREAT.

IF YOU'VE NEVER HAD SCREENING AND YOU SEE A DOCTOR FOR THE FIRST TIME, WHICH HAPPENS, AT THE AGE OF 75, WE THINK SCREENING IS A GOOD IDEA.

BUT YOU CAN JEAN PEOPLE UP TO THE AGE OF 85-- SCREEN PEOPLE UP TO THE AGE OF 85.

IF SOMEONE IS GOING TO LIVE MORE THAN FIVE YEARS, IT'S BEN EFFICIENT TO SCREEN THEM.

A RULE OF THUMB, THESE ARE GUIDELINES AND THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, OF EVERYONE'S SITUATION IS DAIFNLT.

IF YOU'RE-- DIFFERENT.

IF YOUR EXPECTED SURVIVAL IS MORE THAN FIVE YEARS, IT'S GREAT TO GET SCREENED.

>> FAMILY HISTORY.

HOW MUCH DOES THAT PLAY A PART IN ALL THIS?

>> FAMILY HISTORY PLAYS A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN THIS.

SO IF YOU HAVE FAMILY HISTORY OF COLON CANCER, IN THE FIRST-- UNDER THE AGE OF 60, WE CHANGED THE GUIDELINES FOR YOU.

WE BELIEVE YOU'RE AT SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED RISK.

BUT WE DO THEM EARLIER AND MORE FREQUENTLY.

ANYONE IN THE FAMILY WILL INCREASE YOUR RISK OF COLON CANCER, BUT WE DON'T CHANGE THE GUIDELINES FOR ALL OF THEM.

WHAT I ALSO LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT IS THAT FAMILY HISTORY OF POLYPS IS ALSO IMPORTANT.

THERE'S A CATEGORY OF POLYPS THAT WE CALL ADVANCED POLYPS OR HIGH-RISK POLLIMS.

AND THESE-- POLYPS.

AND THEY HAVE A HIGH CHANCE OF TURNING INTO CANCER.

AND IF YOU HAVE A FIRST-- [INAUDIBLE] WHO HAD AN ADVANCED POLYP OR A HIGH-RISK POPIL-- POLYP, THEN YOU SHOULD CONSIDER WATER RISK AS INCREASED JUST LIKE SOMEONE WHO'S HAD A FAMILY HISTORY OF COLON CANCER.

BECAUSE AGAIN, THESE POLYPS HAVE A HIGH CHANCE OF TURNING INTO CANCER.

THE FACT THAT WE REMOVE THEM IN YOUR MOTHER OR FATHER DOESN'T MEAN YOUR RISK FACTORS ARE GOING TO CHANGE.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW YOUR FAMILY-- [INAUDIBLE] >> DOCTOR, CANCER TREATMENT CENTERS OF AMERICA, DOCTOR, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

♪ ♪ >>> BESIDE STATE ROUTE 90 ABOUT 12 MILES FROM MEXICO IS A MON UMENT OF FORT HUACHUCA.

TODAY A HIGH-TECH TRAINING FACILITY, BUT ALSO A KEY OUTPOST IN ARIZONA HISTORY.

FOUNDED IN 1877 AS A TEMPORARY CAMP, THEY PROTECTED MINERS, RANCHERS, AND TRAVELERS AGAINST APACHE ATTACK.

AFTER GIR RON MOW'S SURRENDER IN 1866, THE FORT PROTECTED THE BORDER AND IN 1915 SUPPORTED GENERAL PERSHING'S EXPE ADDITION AGAINST POCHO VILLA.

THE 10th CALVARY NICKNAMED BY INDIANS THE BUFFALO SOLDIERS WERE SENT HERE.

IN 1942, THE FIRST ALL-BLACK DIVISION WAS STATIONED HERE.

FORT HUACHUCA HAS A LONG AND DISTINGUISHED RECORD OF SUPPORT FOR THE PEOPLE OF ARIZONA.

>>> THE CASA ELITEIS PROGRAMS HE RENEWT FAMILY MEMBERS IN THE UNITEDSTATES.

WE LEARN MORE AS JOSE SPOKE WITH DIEGO LOPEZ, THE PROGRAM MANAGER.

>> DIEGO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY TO TALK.

WHAT DOES THEY-- DO THEY DO?

>> IT'S A SHELTER FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS THAT JUST ARRIVED ON OUR SOUTHERN BORDER ACROSS ARIZONA.

AND WE PROVIDE HOSPITALITY FOR THEM.

AND SPACE FOR RESPITE.

WHILE WE ARE WORKING WITH THEM AND GETTING CONNECTED TO THEIR SPONSORS ACROSS THE U.S. >> A TYPICAL STAY I UNDERSTAND JUST A FEW DAYS AND THEN THEY'RE SENT TO WHATEVER THE PART OF THE COUNTRY THEY HAVE RELATIVES IN?

>> YEAH.

SO MOST OF OUR FAMILIES STAY ANYWHERE FROM 12 TO 72 HOURS.

I LIKE TO SAY.

AS WE MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE, YOU KNOW, CLOTHING, FOOD, AN UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR RIGHTS IN THE U.S., BUT ALSO RECOGNIZING THAT SOME PEOPLE THAT CROSS THE BORDER MIGHT HAVE EXPERIENCED SOME INJURY, EITHER MENTALLY OR PHYSICALLY, THAT WE TRY TO SUPPORT THEM WITH, AS WELL AS RECOGNIZING SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THEY MIGHT HAVE EXPERIENCED BEING SEPARATED FROM THEIR LOVED ONES.

SO THAT ALSO AFFECTS THE LENGTH OF THE STAY PEOPLE HAVE.

>> HOW DO THEY GET TO CASA ALITAS?

>> ALL OUR FAMILIES ARE GOING THROUGH THE ASYLUM PRO SITIONZ.

SO-- PROCESS.

SO THAT MEANS THEY'VE HAD INTERVIEWS OF CREDIBLE FEAR WITH WITHIN WITHIN CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTIONS, AT THE PORT OF ENTRY, OR BORDER PATROL BETWEEN THE PORTS.

AND THEN FROM THERE, AFTER THEIR PROCESSED-- THEY'RE PROCESSED, THEN THEY'RE RELEASED TO US OR RE-- RELEASED INTO THE OTHER COMMUNITIES WHERE WE WORK WITH OTHER AGENCIES TO GET THEM HERE.

>> ASYLUM PROCESSING WAS HANDLED DIFFERENTLY BETWEEN THE TRUMP AND THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATIONS.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT?

>> YEAH.

IF YOU-- YOU KNOW, EVEN BACK IN THE OBAMA OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE, THROUGH THE-- ADMINISTRATION, THROUGH THE LAST THREESTRATIONS-- ADMINISTRATIONS, WE'VE SEEN MANY WAVES OF POLICY CHANGES.

WHEN I FIRST STARTED, A FATHER, MOTHER, AND LET'S SAY TWO CHILDREN COMING AT OUR PORT OF ENTRY, THE FATHER WOULD BE SENT TO DETENTION AND THE MOTHER AND CHILDREN WOULD BE ALLOWED THROUGH.

THROUGH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, WE SAW THE PRACTICE OF METERING OCCURRING AT THE PORTS, AS WELL AS WHEN PEOPLE-- BETWEEN THE PORTS, THE PRACTICE OF FAME SEPARATION IN THE SENSE OF CHILDREN SEPARATED FROM THEIR PARENTS.

AND THEN THE PARENTS BEING SENT BACK TO MEXICO AS THEY'RE STILL STRUGGLING TO REUNIFY THOSE FAMILIES.

AND FROM THERE, WE SAW OTHER POLICIES LIKE MIGRATION PROTECT PROTOCOL WHERE WHEN PEOPLE WERE FLEEING FROM THEIR HOME COUNTRIES, COME TO THE U.S. FOR FOR ASYLUM WOULD BE SENT BACK TO MEXICO TO WAIT FOR PROCESSING, FURTHER IN DANGER IN MEXICO FOR MANY OF THOSE FAMILIES.

WITH TITLE 42, THE CURRENT SIGNIFICANT POLICY IN RELATIONSHIP TO COVID WHERE UN-- WHAT IS CONSIDERED UNNECESSARY TRAVEL, MEANING ASYLUM, THOSE FAMILIES ARE ALL BEING SENT BACK TO MEXICO UNLESS MEXICO DOES NOT ACCEPT CERTAIN NATIONALITIES.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, RIGHT NOW WE ARE SEEING PEOPLE FROM HAITI COMING THROUGH, BRAZIL, AND VENEZUELA, SOME EXAMPLES OF COUNTRIES THAT ARE PERMITTED TO COME THROUGH DUE TO MEXICO'S RESPONSE.

>> SO IT'S STILL THE CASE EVEN UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE BEING SENT BACK TO MEXICO TO WAIT THE PROCESSING?

>> THEY'RE NOT EVEN IN THE ASYLUM PROCESS CURRENTLY BEING SENT BACK.

AS SOON AS THEY CROSS, THEY ARE THEY'RE TAKEN RIGHT BACK TO MEXICO WITHOUT BEING PUT INTO THE-- REALLY PUT INTO THE SYSTEM FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICES.

AND WE'RE SLOWLY STARTING TO SEE SOME OF THESE PRACTICES CHANGE AT THE PORTS, AS WELL AS MEXICO'S RESPONSES I JUST MENTIONED, OF CERTAIN NATIONAL NATIONALS NOT BEING PERMITTED-- NATIONALITIES NOT BEING PERMITTED BACK IN MEXICO.

ONE FAMILY I SPOKE TO UPWARDS OF THREE YEARS THEY'VE BEEN WAITING BECAUSE OF ALL THE POLICIES IMPLEMENTED.

>> WHAT ARE THE NATIONALITIES THAT ARE NOT ALLOWED TO GO BACK INTO MEXICO?

>> THERE'S QUITE A SIGNIFICANT-- I MEAN, REALLY, THE-- EASIER IF I GO THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

CENTRAL AMERICAN COUNTRIES ARE THE ONES PERMITTED TO GO BACK TO MEXICO.

AND THEN-- SO RIGHT NOW WE SEE PEOPLE FROM INDIA, ROMANIA, HAITI, VENEZUELAAILANS--VENEZUELANS, AND CUBANS, TOO.

>> SO PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD?

>> YES.

>> DIEGO, WE'RE GOING TO END THE INTERVIEW.

BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT IT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

TAKE CARE.

>> YOU TOO.

>>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TEDSIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

HAVE YOU A GREAT EVENING!