Tucson Standard

US Congressman Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06) joined House Speaker Mike Johnson (LA-04) and a delegation of more than 60 House Republican colleagues for a visit to the U.S.-Mexico border in Eagle Pass, Texas. The purpose of the visit was to assess the situation at the border and gather insights from various stakeholders in the area.

During the visit, the delegation met with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials and attended a briefing with the Texas Department of Public Safety. They also had the opportunity to engage in a roundtable discussion with local ranchers, business owners, and other stakeholders from the region. The aim was to understand the challenges they face and gather first-hand accounts of the impact of the border crisis on their lives and livelihoods.

In a press conference held at Shelby Park, Congressman Ciscomani expressed his concerns about the current state of the border and the impact it is having on the region. He criticized the Biden administration and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas for their handling of the crisis. Ciscomani stated, "With this crisis that Joe Biden and Alejandro Mayorkas created, nobody wins – except the cartels. They are the ones deciding who gets across and who doesn't. They are the ones who are trafficking people and drugs. They are the ones terrorizing their own citizens, with no regard for human life."

Ciscomani highlighted the challenges faced by law enforcement officials and praised their dedication to protecting the safety of the country. He expressed his disappointment in the lack of support they receive from the current administration, stating, "The men and women we met with today, those fighting on the frontlines for our safety, are doing so with little to no support from this administration. They are trying to enforce policies that are at best outdated or at worst, designed to fail."

The timing of Congressman Ciscomani's visit to Eagle Pass is significant, as the Tucson Sector of the border is currently experiencing the highest number of migrant encounters in the nation. In December alone, there were over 302,000 migrant encounters, with more than 80,000 encounters in Tucson.

The visit to the border by Congressman Ciscomani and his Republican colleagues underscores the ongoing concerns about the border crisis and the need for effective strategies to address the challenges it presents. Their engagement with local stakeholders and law enforcement officials provides valuable insights that can contribute to finding solutions to secure the border and ensure the safety of communities in the region.

To learn more, click on this link: https://ciscomani.house.gov/media/press-releases/video-ciscomani-joins-speaker-johnson-60-house-republicans-border-visit