Living the Law -- One Mayor's Experience at the Border
In the fall of 2018, Yuma, Arizona, an agricultural city of about 100,000 people became the second-busiest crossing on the U.S.-Mexico border. Due to changes in policy and limitations of resources, by April of 2019, the Mayor of Yuma, Douglas Nicholls, was challenged with balancing his constituent concerns, meeting the demand of local businesses and the humanitarian needs of migrants. Hear directly from Mayor Nicholls about his efforts to work in partnership with federal, state and local authorities within the existing laws and regulations governing immigration and mobility.
Learning Objectives:
- The tie between immigration and business
- The importance of multilateral collaboration
- Immigration reform: What’s next?
Mayor Douglas J. Nicholls
Douglas J. Nicholls is the 27th Mayor of the City of Yuma, Arizona. He began his second four-year term as Mayor in January 2018. Mayor Nicholls is committed to the Yuma community through his core belief that quality communities provide opportunities to success to all residents through quality jobs, superior education and robust quality of life.
Mayor Nicholls spearheads many efforts to enhance and grow the Yuma community, including serving as the Founder and Chairman of 4FrontED’s Governing Board. The 4FrontED effort is an economic development-focused governing board of regional mayors from the region that includes states near the U.S.-Mexico border. Together, they work collaboratively to maximize impact at the global forefront, representing a population of more than one million people.
His vision to enhance accessibility to higher education culminates in plans for the Yuma Multiversity Campus (YMC). Mayor Nicholls currently serves as Chairman of the YMC’s Governing Board which includes multi-disciplinary industry leaders from throughout the community who are working to develop a centralized campus in Yuma. The YMC will offer baccalaureate programs in full, utilizing the academic programs and specialties offered by the state universities and local community colleges.
Mayor Nicholls was appointed to the Military Affairs Committee by Arizona Governor Doug Ducey. He serves as Treasurer of the Arizona League of Cities and Towns’ Executive Committee. In 2019, he was inducted into the Arizona State University (ASU) Academy of Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame for the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment.
Mayor Nicholls was raised in Yuma, Ariz., and earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering from ASU, before continuing post-baccalaureate studies in transportation engineering. In addition to his role as Mayor of Yuma, he is President/Owner of Core Engineering Group, an active Rotarian, a deacon at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, and a dedicated husband and father. Mayor Nicholls is married to Danette, his high school sweet heart, and the two have four children.
