Hearing Today on SCR1011 Urging Congress and President to Act on the Crisis at the Border

SCR1011, the Arizona Senate Concurrent Resolution sponsored by Sen. Griffin (R - Dist 14) being heard today (March 23) at 2:00 in Natural Resources, Energy & Water urging Congress and the President to act on the crisis at the border reads as below:

• Whereas, the southern border consists of 1,954 miles of varied terrain, including deserts, rugged mountainous areas, forests and coastal areas; and

• Whereas, officially established in 1924 by an act of Congress in response to increasing illegal immigration, the United States Border Patrol has primary responsibility for securing the border between ports of entry; and

• Whereas, Border Patrol agents patrol international land borders and waterways to detect and prevent the illegal trafficking of people, narcotics and contraband into the United States; and

• Whereas, the southern border of the United States is experiencing unprecedented numbers of individuals attempting to enter the country illegally; and

• Whereas, there has been a major increase in both apprehensions and expulsions on the southwest border since January of 2021, with over 70,000 expulsions and 26,000 apprehensions taking place in February; and

• Whereas, many people are smuggled into the United States, by "coyotes" and criminal syndicates, in abusive, cruel and unsafe conditions, many times under false promises; and

• Whereas, in January and February of 2021, the Border Patrol encountered more than 15,000 unaccompanied minors; and Whereas, the Border Patrol is holding over 3,000 children in detention, a record high; and

• Whereas, an uncontrolled border is a security and humanitarian crises, endangering the safety of American citizens with the harmful threat of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) and subjecting unaccompanied minors to poor conditions; and

• Whereas, the Biden administration has halted construction of a southern border wall, and there are numerous unfinished sections in Arizona.

  • 1. That the Members of the Legislature call on the President and Congress to take immediate and decisive action to secure the southern border and stymie the security and humanitarian crises associated with any further illegal immigration and to as quickly as possible shore up the southern border by completing the southern border wall.

  • 2. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona transmit a copy of this Resolution to the President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and each Member of Congress from the State of Arizona.

From Arizona Capitol Times, Friday March 19:

BOWERS, OTHER REPUBLICANS SEEK RESPONSE TO BORDER CRISIS

Several Republican legislators today urged Sinema, Kelly, Ducey and Brnovich to help end the immigration and humanitarian crisis escalating on the Southern border. Bowers, Dunn, Osborne, John and Kerr asked Ducey and others to ensure Arizona communities won’t bear the financial costs incurred by what they described as failed federal policies “fomenting the situation.” In a letter, the legislators blamed the Biden administration for the crisis, arguing that ICE’s release policy is a “miscalculation in immigration policy that now is taking a tremendous human toll.” The legislators said the Biden administration should, first of all, send a clear message discouraging illegal immigration. In addition, the feds should ensure that ICE and the Office of Refugee Resettlement have the resources they need, such as additional judges, to do their jobs. Any response, they added, should also factor in the challenges posed by COVID-19. “Proper COVID-19 protocols must extend to these migrants in order for our local NGOs and volunteers to safely participate in relief efforts,” they said. “Unknowingly releasing infected persons into the community would only increase infection rates and tax already overwhelmed hospitals and city services.” Bowers et al also noted that Arizona has 13 miles of border wall that are not complete. This situation, they said, lets drug cartels outmaneuver U.S. Customs and Border Patrol by sending migrants in one area and then transporting drugs in another. “We ask that you work together with us and our colleagues in the Legislature to close these gaps, including by finishing the wall or securing the existing wall with the National Guard. Doing so would help channel migrants to the ports of entry to seek asylum lawfully, while interrupting the flow of the cartels’ drug-trafficking operations,” they said.

TOWNSEND: WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN?

Townsend sent a similar plea yesterday, focusing on the plight of migrant children. “I am concerned about the well-being of these children,” Townsend said. “Regardless of where you stand on the issue of illegal immigration, history shows us that children have been mistreated, molested, and held longer than the 72-hour maximum.” Townsend said she wants to know what the state and federal governments are doing to ensure the children are in humane conditions and “not being further victimized.” She also called on the Biden administration to “reverse” the flood of migrants coming into the U.S. because they expect an “easy entry.” “This is no time to invite the masses into our country during a pandemic,” Townsend said.