Tucson Standard

TUCSON, Ariz. – On June 27, Representative Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-07) released a statement in recognition of the groundbreaking for the complete renovation and modernization of the San Luis I Land Porty of Entry (LPOE). The San Luis LPOE recently received $300 million in funding for its modernization and expansion project from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

“After years of advocacy, I’m proud to have helped secured this funding thanks to the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” said Rep. Grijalva. “The San Luis LPOE will receive $300 million for a complete modernization which will improve efficiencies and traffic flows, reduce wait times, increase processing capacity, and improve our border management. Moving forward, my top priority will continue to be improving our ports of entry and working to ensure we meet the needs of the people of the borderlands.”

In total, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will invest more than $400 million in three ports in Arizona. Beyond making these border crossings more functional, sustainable, and secure, this investment will also foster economic growth and job creation in surrounding communities. Other Arizona land ports slated for funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are the Raul Hector Castro LPOE and a new commercial port in Douglas, Arizona. 

More information on the San Luis I Land Port of Entry project can be found here.

Background

In August 2021, Rep. Grijalva joined an Arizona delegation letter to House leadership in support of the over $3.5 billion for LPOE modernization in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to help improve facilitating economic activity and ensuring border security.

In September 2019, Rep. Grijalva sent letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee to express support for the $248 million funding allocation for the San Luis, Arizona Land Port of Entry.

 In 2019, as part of Rep. Grijalva’s advocacy efforts to improve the San Luis POE, Rep. Grijalva visited San Luis with Rep. Mike Quigley (IL-05), then Appropriations Chair of the Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee, to demonstrate the need for federal funding for a modernized port of entry.  

In June 2011, Rep. Grijalva sent a letter to then House Speaker John Boehner and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi calling for greater funding at border ports of entry, citing the high economic costs of understaffing and a chronic shortage of infrastructure.

In June 2010, Rep. Grijalva asked President Barack Obama for $300 million for Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) and the General Services Administration to fully to fully fund operations and needed upgrades at border ports of entry.

Original source can be found here.