VIEW LARGER Migrants wait to be processed by border patrol outside of Lukeville, Arizona, on Dec. 5, 2023. Governor Katie Hobbs is asking the Biden administration to use the National Guard to reopen the Lukeville port of entry and announced a new office to coordinate local, state and federal border efforts.
Governor spokesman Christian Slater said that right now there’s a little bit of a patchwork between the different jurisdictions and levels of government participating in border security efforts.
“This office will make sure everybody is rowing the boat in the same direction and making sure that we’re leveraging all of our assets the best we can to keep Arizona safe and keep the border secure,” Slater said.
The office will be funded with $2 million from the American Rescue Plan. Hobbs also said another $5 million from the state toward the National Guard is a possibility.
As well, the governor is asking that 243 National Guard members in the region be used to reopen the Lukeville port of entry, closed Monday to move the couple dozen personnel there to assist Border Patrol with an influx of migrants.
Hobbs also asked for reimbursement of more than $500 million spent on border operations.
The governor is taking a trip to the border Saturday to receive a briefing and tour from Customs and Border Protection. Her office would not tell AZPM what time or specific locations of the trip.
By submitting your comments, you hereby give AZPM the right to post your comments and potentially use them in any other form of media operated by this institution.