Over the last week, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs tackled the immigration issue that has been a continual statewide and national hot topic, largely because Republicans (and some extreme left-wing Democrats) at the federal level have balked at Comprehensive Immigration Reform since 2014, virtually did nothing when President Biden, in one of his first acts as Chief Executive on January 20, 2021, proposed his version of Immigration Reform, and circumvented bipartisan border security legislation earlier this year.
In a letter to Congress on March 12, 2024, the Governor demanded action on border security on the Arizona and Mexico border, asking for full funding ($752 million) contained in proposed Homeland Security Funding requests and the hiring and acquisitions of resources contained in the stalled Senate Bipartisan Border Security measure that went into limbo after Donald ‘Mexico will pay for the wall’ Trump pressured Republicans to drop their support so he could have an issue to run on.
In her letter, Governor Hobbs wrote:
“I write to you today with a sense of urgency on behalf of the people of Arizona. As Governor, it is my duty to ensure the safety and well-being of our communities, especially in the face of the challenges posed by border security.
I want to express my full support for the request made by Senators Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema to allocate no less than $752 million towards the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Shelter and Services Program (SSP) as you deliberate on the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. This funding is
of utmost importance to provide critical humanitarian assistance and alleviate the immense strain faced by local governments and non-governmental organizations in Arizona and across our state.”
“The challenges faced by Arizona and its border communities are palpable. As current FEY2023 funding approaches depletion, Arizona’s border communities, law enforcement, and charitable organizations find themselves on the brink of operational limitations. Without additional support, critical services could be compromised, placing
both migrants and local residents at risk. Pima County, for instance, has played a pivotal role in providing essential services to migrants released by CBP, but they anticipate challenges in sustaining these services beyond April 2024 due to funding constraints. Similarly, the Regional Center for Border Health in Yuma, Arizona, and the International Rescue Committee in Phoenix face similar obstacles despite their vital contributions to coordinating migrant transportation in Yuma County.”
“Furthermore, I strongly encourage you to consider the comprehensive funding proposals outlined in the Senate bipartisan border security agreement. This bill, widely supported by stakeholders ranging from the Border Patrol Union to the Chamber of Commerce, reflects the need for enhancing border security while upholding principles of
fairness and compassion.”
“This bipartisan legislation not only strengthens resources to DHS but also provides vital support for cities and states, like Arizona, grappling with irregular migration. For instance, it allocates funds to bolster the number of Customs and Border Protection personnel by more than 1,500, ensuring a robust presence along our borders to manage the influx of migrants.”
“Additionally, it includes provisions to combat drug trafficking, such as funding for the installation of advanced inspection machines at Southwest Border ports of entry, crucial for detecting illicit drugs like fentanyl. Despite their effectiveness, many of these scanners remain unused due to Congress’s failure to allocate funds for their installation. This lack of funding hampers border security efforts, leaving valuable equipment unused, particularly in Nogales, Arizona, where innovative methods of smuggling fentanyl have been discovered. The new Non-Intrusive Inspection (NIl) technology allows for efficient screening of vehicles without requiring drivers to exit, minimizing disruptions to traffic flow at border checkpoints. These measures not only enhance border security but also protect our communities from the devastating impacts of drug trafficking. This funding is not merely a request; it is a necessity and serves as the linchpin in addressing the complex challenges on our border and ensuring the safety and security of four communities.”
“Arizona’s border is more than a convenient location for politicians to take photo ops and stage press conferences. It’s where my constituents live, work, and raise their families. My state has done everything possible to deliver safety and security to those communities, but we need Congress to step up and do its job. It is unacceptable that the
security of everyday Arizonans has taken a back seat to political games in Washington, DC, forcing working families in my state to bear the burden of congressional inaction. It’s time to prioritize practical solutions over political maneuvers.”
Governor Hobbs is right.
The border “is more than a convenient location for politicians to take photo ops and stage press conferences. It’s where my constituents live, work, and raise their families.”
She is also right in calling for Senators and Representatives in Washington D.C. to stop the “political games.”
Borders are also what determines what makes up a nation and its boundaries. To have unsecured borders, be it with Mexico, Canada (which no white nationalist MAGA Republican ever talks about,) or the coastlines (again, something which no white nationalist MAGA Republican ever talks about,) is a national problem that needs to be addressed.
People need to remember that Democrats like Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden and their allies in both political parties have worked over the last decade to enact Comprehensive Immigration Reform.
It has been largely due to the obstructionist efforts of MAGA-Trumpist Republicans led by Mr. ‘Mexico will pay for the wall’ who are the loudest in whining about the situation at the southern border and extreme left-wing Democrats who cry that border security is too stringent that Comprehensive Immigration Reform has not been enacted and why funding Homeland Security and Border Security is currently stalled in Congress.
It is time to stop, as Governor Hobbs writes, the “political games” and do what is right for the border communities all around the country.
Thank you Governor Hobbs for your justified demand that Congress must provide federal resources to meet the humanitarian and security demands at our southern border. Those of us who have for years been voluntarily providing humanitarian assistance to the migrant needs in our communities join you in demanding that Congress act to immediately and responsibly provide the funding you’ve identified.
Roberto Reveles, founding president, Somos America/We Are America