Since last Thursday, local law enforcement officers and Border Patrol agents have encountered thousands of illegal immigrants after they crossed the U.S. Mexican border near Yuma. On Tuesday, Governor Doug Ducey visited the area to address the surge and his plan to reposition Arizona’s public safety resources to address the humanitarian crisis.
#USBP #YumaSector agents encountered more than 4,000 migrants who illegally entered the United States from Mexico Friday through Monday. Agents continue to work expeditiously to identify, screen and process those they encounter. #BorderSecurity is #NationalSecurity pic.twitter.com/CdYxhsBhtA
— Chief Patrol Agent Chris T. Clem (@USBPChiefYUM) December 8, 2021
“It’s clear the Biden administration has created a December Disaster at our border,” said Ducey. “As a result of piecemeal policy and a lack of federal involvement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has been inundated. We simply cannot stand by and watch this catastrophe unfold. We are taking action at the state level to protect Arizonans and our communities. My thanks to the men and women of the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the members of the Arizona National Guard, the team at the Arizona Department of Homeland Security, members of the Border Patrol and the entire law enforcement community for your commitment to protecting Arizonans.”
According to the governor, the National Guard is sending the following resources to support the Department of Public Safety:
- 24 personnel
- Six vehicles
- Four ATVs
- One light utility helicopter
The Department of Public Safety and the National Guard are also deploying tactical resources to the areas where U.S. Border Patrol and intelligence indicate the most threatening incursions are occurring.
The Governor received a briefing from the U.S. Border Patrol, Arizona National Guard, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Public Safety and local law enforcement and he toured the mounting crisis at the border and its impact on the community. The Governor held a press conference following the tour and briefing.
The Governor was joined by Adjutant General Kerry Muehlenbeck, Arizona Department of Homeland Security Director Tim Roemer, Department of Public Safety Director Colonel Heston Silbert, Yuma County Sheriff Leon Wilmot, Yuma County Supervisor Jonathan Lines, Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls, Senator Sine Kerr, Representative Joanne Osborne and Representative Tim Dunn.
More than 1.7 million migrants were encountered at the southern border last fiscal year, which is more than the past two years combined. In October, there were more than 164,000 encounters at the southern border, a 128 percent increase from October 2020.
The governor says this crisis means migrants are making the dangerous journey to the U.S., facing illness, violence and death.