BY THE END OF THE YEAR, THE FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING CENTER IN ARTESIA WILL NO LONGER HOUSE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM CENTRAL AMERICA. THE CENTER HAS BEEN USED AS A DETENTION FACILITY SINCE JUNE. ARTESIA MAYOR PHILLIP BURCH TELLS US IT'S HAS BEEN A MAJOR DISTRACTION FOR FLETC. HE SAYS IT WAS A NEEDLESS DISTRACTION AND THERE WERE OTHER, MORE APPROPRIATE LOCATIONS TO HOUSE THE IMMIGRANTS.
BURCH SAYS THE CENTER CAN NOW GET BACK TO DOING THE JOB IT WAS INTENDED TO DO: TRAINING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
THE 450 OR SO IMMIGRANTS NOW BEING HELD IN ARTESIA ARE MOSTLY MOTHERS WITH YOUNG CHILDREN.
