Border Security Alliance Statement Regarding President Biden's Planned Visit to the Border
Phoenix, AZ— On Sunday, President Joe Biden will visit El Paso, Texas, marking his first visit to the Southern border since becoming President. The Border Security Alliance issued the following statement regarding the planned visit:
“I am glad President Biden is finally traveling to see the border crisis firsthand and telling migrants the border is closed,” said Jobe Dickinson, President of the Border Security Alliance. “But this action is long overdue. We need meaningful reforms that will address the border crisis that is worsening each day, not a political photo op. BSA hopes to see follow through from the administration on new border policies and will continue to call for more resources to secure the border.”
The Border Security Alliance released a video today featuring Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels. Human and drug smuggling is a dire issue, particularly in Cochise County. It is time for needed policy changes. BSA is urging
leadership from the federal government and cooperation from state and local governments to curb the current flow of illicit products, drugs, and migrants.
"Politics has spoiled public safety, not just in my county, not just in my state, but our country. We need you back, Federal government. We need our Congress back. We need our President back. We need this administration back to help us secure your mandated border,” said Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels.
Background on Border Crisis:
In FY2022 there was an all-time high 2.3M illegal immigrant encounters along the southern border, increasing from 1.7M in FY2021.
National drug seizures are down significantly since 2020 but that is not because less drugs are coming across the border. It is because we no longer have the staffing needed to intercept the drugs along the border resulting in police agencies across Arizona, who are also short staffed, engaging in more drug interdiction cases.
Yuma County recently declared a state of emergency in anticipation of the termination of Title 42 during a public health crisis which includes increased cases of RSV, COVID-19 and the flu.
In Yuma, AZ, hospital costs related to migrants have exceeded $23 million in unreimbursed expenses.
Migrants will call 911 hoping to get first responders or an ambulance to treat them, placing more demand on the system.
There has never been a greater demand placed on local charities and NGOs along the border.
Yuma is seeing around 1,000 migrants per day and expects to see those numbers double (not including those who got away) when Title 42 ends.
This additional strain on border patrol resources will only exasperate human and narcotics trafficking and the border patrol's ability to focus on these criminal activities.
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About Border Security Alliance:
The Border Security Alliance promotes social welfare by advocating for public policies to secure the northern and southern borders, support border patrol and law enforcement, combat human trafficking, drug smuggling, illicit tobacco trade, and protect local communities.
