(NewsNation) — As the immigration crisis continues to escalate along the southern border, towns like Douglas, Arizona, find themselves at the forefront of the struggle, grappling with overwhelmed resources and a lack of federal support.

Speaking on NewsNation’s “Elizabeth Vargas Reports,” Mayor Donald Huish of Douglas, Arizona, underscored the dire situation facing his town, where the migrant influx has placed an immense strain on local resources.

The Tucson Sector, which encompasses most of Arizona’s border region, apprehended over 250,000 migrants in the first four months of the fiscal year, marking a 182% increase from the previous year.

Acknowledging the gravity of the situation, Huish expressed frustration at the lack of federal funding and legislative action. He emphasized the strain on local law enforcement, citing staffing shortages and increased responsibilities.

Huish supported Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs’ recent veto of a bill that would have made it a crime for noncitizens to enter the state through Mexico at any location other than a port of entry.

“It would place an undue burden on our local law enforcement. We’re understaffed right now. It’s difficult to hire law enforcement at this point in time, and so it would increase that burden on them,” Huish said.

The failure of Congress to pass comprehensive border legislation further compounds the challenges faced by border towns like Douglas. Huish implored lawmakers to transcend political divides and prioritize the urgent need for federal assistance.

“It leaves us at dire straits. I was particularly impressed with the border bill that came out of the Senate. It had some aspects of it that would have helped immensely,” Huish said. “It’s apparent that the current political environment of Washington, D.C., doesn’t want to deal with it.”

In Douglas, the overflow of asylum-seekers, predominantly from other areas in the western part of the state, overwhelms local infrastructure. Huish described how the town’s limited transportation options and housing capacities strain under the weight of the migrant influx.

Despite efforts from local churches and limited municipal resources, the town struggles to cope with the sheer volume of arrivals.

“It’s through the generosity of churches 100%. We’ve participated a little bit in providing Porta-Potties and using some of our local prison population to clean the building, to help out in those areas and to provide some stopgap funding,” Huish said.

Huish recounted efforts to garner federal support, including a joint appeal to President Joe Biden for increased funding and resources. However, he lamented the lack of response from the federal government, emphasizing the need for swift action to alleviate the burden on border communities.