Actress Jennifer Garner visits Deming, New Mexico, to meet immigrant families

Xchelzin Peña
USATNetwork

DEMING — Actress Jennifer Garner was in Deming, New Mexico, on Wednesday to visit the makeshift immigrant shelter at the Southwestern New Mexico State Fairgrounds.

Volunteers told the Deming Headlight that they saw the actress talking with migrant families and playing with some of the children being held there.

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Luna County Manager Chris Brice, who is coordinating efforts with federal officials to shelter immigrants after they are processed by U.S. agents, confirmed that the actress had passed through Deming during a regular county meeting on Thursday.

Garner — who became famous for her role as Sydney Bristow in the television series "Alias" and has been featured in dozens of films, including "13 Going on 30," "Catch and Release," "Love, Simon" and "Elektra" — is a national board member of Save the Children, a charity organization that helps children during times of crisis.

“They are a group that has been out here probably a little over two weeks now," Brice said of the charity group. "They set up the kids’ safe zone/play zone. They have a lot of volunteers that come in and do arts and crafts with the kids and stuff like that.

“So, she flew in yesterday and did a tour of our facility with NBC News out of New York," he continued, "so they will be doing a story on that. She has committed to go back and lobby her board for funding to sustain this for as long as it takes.”

Deming and Luna County officials were told in mid-May that U.S. Border Patrol agents would begin dropping off immigrants at local transportation hubs, sometimes hundreds a day.

Officials and volunteers set up the fairgrounds to hold immigrants, many from Central America, while sponsors help book transportation to connect immigrants with families and friends elsewhere in the United States.

The old Army air base hangars were opened just a few days later to hold more people.

Deming and county volunteers have processed more than 7,000 migrants in the month since the drop-offs began. About 245 immigrants arrive every day, Brice said.

Xchelzin Peña may be reached at 575-305-5532 or at xpena@demingheadlight.com.