Tucson Standard

U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06) is calling on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to deploy the Arizona National Guard to the state in order to provide support to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) efforts at the border. This urgent request comes as the Tucson Border Sector is grappling with a significant increase in migrant traffic at the southern border.

In a letter addressed to the agency, Ciscomani emphasized the critical situation in the Tucson Sector, stating, "[The] Tucson Sector is leading in encounters and our agents and officers are overrun and undermanned. The situation is far past a breaking point and those on the frontlines of this crisis are in need of immediate support."

The urgency of the situation was highlighted by recent reports that encounters at the southern border reached nearly 10,000 migrants within a 24-hour period. The Tucson Sector alone recorded daily numbers of almost 3,000 encounters. To address the surge, CBP has been forced to close ports of entry and redirect staff from other operations, such as training activities and communication efforts.

As the only naturalized citizen from Mexico in the House Republican Conference, Ciscomani has been a strong advocate for border security throughout his first year in office. He has introduced several provisions aimed at strengthening security and addressing the challenges at the border. These include H.R. 5990, the Border Enforcement, Security, and Trade (BEST) Facilitation Act of 2023, a bipartisan bill aimed at enhancing security screenings at ports of entry. Additionally, Ciscomani has proposed H.R. 5585, the Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act, which seeks to make failing to yield to law enforcement a federal crime in the 100-mile border region. Lastly, his H.R. 3602, the Transnational Criminal Organization Illicit Spotter Prevention and Elimination Act, aims to increase penalties for individuals involved in aiding cartel operations at the southern border.

The deployment of the Arizona National Guard to assist CBP in handling the surge in migrant traffic is seen as a crucial step in addressing the overwhelming challenges faced by border agents and officers in the Tucson Sector. Congressman Ciscomani's efforts to advocate for immediate support reflect a growing concern for the safety and security of the region.

For additional details, please follow this link: https://ciscomani.house.gov/media/press-releases/tucson-faces-migrant-surge-ciscomani-pushes-national-guard-deployment-arizona