Every day, communities on the Arizona border are forced to deal with a crisis exacerbated by the increasing number of illegal immigrants coming to the Southwest border.
This crisis is nothing new.
We grew up along the southern border. Born in Tucson and Mexico, respectively, and raised in southern Arizona. All our lives, we have seen challenges at our borders.
This crisis is getting worse year by year and administration by administration as the federal government repeatedly fails to address our broken borders and immigration system.
We are now at a tipping point.
The Biden Administration Has Not Proved It’s Ready
The current administration will end the state of emergency declared by the executive branch on May 11 to address public health challenges related to the coronavirus pandemic.
Once these states of emergency end, Title 42, an enforcement action that allows the government to deny entry to immigrants who have entered or are about to enter the United States, will end for good.
Title 42 was never meant to be a permanent solution to our country’s border crisis. It has always served as a temporary bandage issued by the executive branch to prevent the spread of coronavirus among immigrant and border communities.
The administration has known for over a year that the clock was ticking at the end of Title 42, but after the order was formally issued, the preparations and preparations needed to manage the expected immigration surge I couldn’t show you that I’m doing my current plan.I’m leaving.
Let me be clear, this is not a political issue, it is a security, economic and humanitarian nightmare.
Arizona can’t afford to keep politicians withdrawing into partisan corners. Instead, examine what the problems at our borders are—not what one party or the other wanted—and focus on finding meaningful solutions.
Arizona border areas are struggling
That is why, as leaders representing the Arizona Border region, we reject partisan echo chambers and work hard to create common sense and enduring policies that:
- strengthen border security,
- Reform outstanding asylum processes,
- Modernization of the work visa system
- Address undocumented resident situations.
A few weeks ago we took our colleagues from both the Senate and House of Representatives to Douglas, Bisbee and Naco to hear and see firsthand the challenges border communities experience.
By working with mayors, sheriffs, and local leaders across Arizona, we are showing Washington the impact of its failures and the need to engage in a bipartisan approach to resolving border and immigration crises. increase.
we are emphasizing crime it comes with Increase in border traffic In towns like Sierra Vista, Cochise County Jail Overcrowding.
how we Overcrowding at our ports of entry In Douglas, San Luis and Nogales, the flow of goods, commerce and labor that propels the economy and farms slows or stops altogether.
And how the San Luis Walk-in Clinic had to shift work Unable to provide normal patient care to care for sick or injured migrants.
Problems intensify once Title 42 ends
We have witnessed firsthand the burdens border communities experience every day.
Yuma’s only hospital — the Yuma Regional Medical Center — has more than $20 million in funding. unpaid medical expenses From treatment of immigrants from December 2021 to May 2022.
In San Luis, a small community of approximately 37,000 people, 3 of the 5 ambulances available are in regular use. just to take care of immigrantsleaving only two ambulances in the local community on any given night.
And the Sierra Vista — home to Fort Huachuca and thousands of military families — a reckless smuggler Sprinting through towns on your way north, risking the lives of residents and smuggling immigrants.
When the DHS Secretary visited:Migrants Protest Nearby Border Restrictions
As dangerous as each of these failures are for Arizonas and immigrants alike, without proper planning ahead of the end of Title 42, they will only become more dire.
We have an important job to do to provide lasting solutions to the crisis at hand, but the administration must do its job and prepare for the influx of immigrants coming to Arizona.
Sending troops to the border is not enough
While the recent announcement of active duty military personnel to the southern border will provide limited relief from the severe tensions facing Arizona border communities on a daily basis, the government’s announced deployment is only one week from the end of Title 42. It takes place later and leaves us with more questions than answers.
The US-Mexico border is nearly 2,000 miles long, and 1,500 troops means less than 1 soldier per mile. Furthermore, it is unclear how and where our service members are utilized.
The White House has put it off for over a year, but the crisis that Arizona continues to shoulder cannot be shunned with closed eyes.
Government has to do its job. Communities should not bear the burden of a broken federal system.
That’s why, as we continue our critical bipartisan effort to secure Arizona’s borders, treat immigrants humanely, and develop lasting policies that solve our broken problems, we want the administration to do more. and continue to pressure them to use their existing powers in the short term to secure their borders. immigration system.
Admins need to ramp up resources now
With just a few days left until the end of Title 42, we ask the administration to:
- providing emergency resources to our community,
- Empowering brave men and women on the front lines,
- Strengthen inter-agency coordination and cooperation to avoid street releases in small border towns.
- Increases ability to keep Arizona communities safe while ensuring immigrants are treated fairly and humanely.
We work hard to find lasting solutions that give Arizona families peace of mind and immigration fairness.
If the government is willing to put politics aside, so should it.
Independent Kirsten Cinema is a U.S. Senator from Arizona. Republican Juan Ciscomani represents Arizona’s 6th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives. On Twitter: Senator @Sinema and @RepCiscomani.
