PHOENIX — “If the federal government isn’t going to do its job, then Arizona will take matters into our own hands,” said Governor Doug Ducey after Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the United States Border Patrol declined to take custody of 17 undocumented individuals identified by the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
According to the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS), at around 6 a.m., troopers stopped a van that was traveling on I-10 near Ray Road carrying 17 undocumented immigrants inside the vehicle.
Absent response from the agencies with jurisdiction on immigration violations, the AZDPS trooper issued the appropriate citations for the traffic violations, impounded the vehicle and was forced to release the subjects. (3/3) pic.twitter.com/5STfZA9kqr
— Dept. of Public Safety (@Arizona_DPS) April 16, 2021
Upon contact with the driver, a U.S. citizen, the trooper observed 17 undocumented aliens in the vehicle. AZDPS requested assistance from Immigration Customs Enforcement & the U.S. Border Patrol to take custody of the undocumented aliens, both agencies declined the request.
— Dept. of Public Safety (@Arizona_DPS) April 16, 2021
“The Biden/Harris administration needs to get its head out of the sand when it comes to the crisis at our border,” said Ducey in a press release. “This lack of action defies all logic, and flies in the face of the law. This administration is asleep at the switch, and their total lack of action is having real consequences here in the state of Arizona.
“I’ve met with our Border Patrol and they need help, and they need the support of the administration,” continued Ducey.”It’s time for the White House to act and do its job so the dedicated law enforcement officials on the ground have the resources, support and direction they desperately need. I’m hopeful that our United States Senators and Congressional delegation will join me in calling for the President to deploy the National Guard to our border.”
“The policies of the Biden/Harris administration are inhumane to those seeking legitimate humanitarian relief, and do nothing but empower those that pose a serious threat to public safety, including drug cartels and human traffickers,” concluded Ducey.