Howard Fisher
Capitol Media Services

PHOENIX — A five-point plan by Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs is meant to address what happens Friday when Border Patrol loses its ability to immediately deport people who enter the country to seek asylum. , which contains a lot of ideas, but lacks details.

And much of what she says has already happened.

The governor said he intends to use state resources to send migrants released from Border Patrol custody to states and other parts of the country.

She also promised enforcement action, although details were not disclosed.

“The situation is fluid,” Hobbes said.

One option, she said, is to send the National Guard to the border.

Arizona is already doing it, with 180 soldiers performing routine, non-law enforcement duties to help free border agents. Hobbs said there could be more, but he doesn’t know how many and what they will do.

Also, how much is an emergency shelter?

“We don’t know the numbers because we don’t know the numbers,” Hobbs said at a news conference on Monday.

“I don’t know what it will actually take,” she said.

The question becomes how much of a crisis there would be if Title 42’s power to deport immigrants ended at midnight Thursday night, and the Federal Border Protection lost its power to simply send asylum seekers back to Mexico. .

Yuma Mayor Douglas Nichols said the surge has already begun.

“About a month ago, the Yuma sector was crossing the border with 300 people a day,” he said.

After two weeks, the daily number reached 600, and on Sunday it reached 1,000.

“And at eight o’clock this morning, 500 people had already crossed into the Yuma sector,” Nichols said. “This won’t stop anytime soon”

If there was a common theme in Monday’s briefing, it was that everyone there was blaming Washington.

“This is a federal issue,” said Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos. Or health care for these immigrants, it’s not right.

Nichols agreed.

“This is a national problem. The federal leadership has failed to solve the problem in this country,” he said.

The governor also lashed out at Washington.

“Without stronger action from the federal government, the current situation will only get worse,” the governor said. I am worried.

Hobbes also released a copy of a letter to the president and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mallorcas more than a week ago asking about their intentions.

“As of today, we have not received a proper response,” she said.

The governor expects “very big[federal]money” to deal with the fact that hundreds, if not thousands, of immigrants released into the country will need shelter. What is missing, and what Hobbs needs, is assurance that these funds will be concentrated in border areas.

“Right now we’re competing with every state for that funding,” she said.

Still, the governor said he has a contingency plan to address pressing issues.

Hobbs said the new budget she and Republican lawmakers are finalizing will increase the budget to deal with the homeless. But she’s not happy with the idea that some of that cash will be poured into dealing with the end of Title 42.

“Let me tell you, that intent won’t necessarily be used in shelters. Arizonans shouldn’t pay for it to be the responsibility of the federal government.”

The governor’s preparedness list also includes state departments of public safety assisting local sheriffs and law enforcement with public safety and drug prohibition.

However, DPS director Jeffrey Glover insisted he would not distract officers from other duties, including highway safety. He said he could.

The transportation aspect of the governor’s plan is actually a continuation of what was started by his Republican predecessor, Doug Ducey.

But the Ducey were sending a ton of buses to Washington without any real arrangements for what would happen when they got there, or even if Washington was where they wanted to go.

When Hobbes took office in January, he shifted to adding flights instead, but with a view to putting migrants closer to families and organizations that could provide support.

But the bottom line is that states alone cannot handle the problem.

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Twitter: @azcapmedia