Kelly, Sinema Call on Administration to Help Address Crisis at the Arizona Border, Fund National Guard Deployment

Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema called on the administration to help address the crisis at the southern border by reimbursing the state of Arizona for the deployment of National Guardsmen to Arizona’s border supporting border security efforts.

“There is a crisis at the southern border… As such, we request you reimburse the state of Arizona for the deployment the Governor announced yesterday to support border security and continue to increase DHS personnel who can further assist with the processing of migrants, securing the border, and executing important security missions. We stand ready to work with you to support our border communities, secure the border, prevent the spread of COVID-19, and treat all migrants and unaccompanied children fairly and humanely,” wrote Senators Kelly and Sinema.

Kelly and Sinema are working directly with federal agencies and leaders in Arizona to ensure the administration takes meaningful steps to support Arizona’s border communities and NGOs, secure the border, prevent the spread of COVID-19, and treat all migrants and unaccompanied children fairly and humanely. Kelly and Sinema are partnering to ensure the Department of Homeland Security has plans and procedures to support our border communities and protect migrants. Kelly and Sinema also worked to include $110 million in funding in the American Rescue Package that is now law for border communities and non-profits stepping up to help solve the migrant crisis. The resources will directly help border communities address the situation at the border, including to stop the spread of COVID-19, protect Arizonans, and ensure migrants are treated fairly and humanely.

Read Kelly and Sinema’s full letter below:

There is a crisis at the southern border. From recent conversations with local community leaders, law enforcement, and local Department of Homeland Security officials, it’s clear that their resources, staffing and capabilities are strained. 

Yesterday, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey announced he would be sending up to 250 additional Arizona National Guardsmen to the U.S.-Mexico border to assist local law enforcement efforts as increases in migration numbers continue. On February 4, 2021, we sent a letter to Secretary Mayorkas calling for additional resources to assist on the border. While additional resources were passed in the American Rescue Plan and provided by FEMA and DHS, additional personnel are needed at the border to ensure our communities are protected, and migrants are treated fairly and humanely. This need for a  secure and orderly process at the U.S. southern border should not fall on the state of Arizona or Arizona border communities. 

We know the National Guard can provide important assistance on the border and note that there are approximately 500 Guardsmen already deployed to the Yuma and Tucson sectors. As such, we request you reimburse the state of Arizona for the deployment the Governor announced yesterday to support border security and continue to increase DHS personnel who can further assist with the processing of migrants, securing the border, and executing important security missions. 

We stand ready to work with you to support our border communities, secure the border, prevent the spread of COVID-19, and treat all migrants and unaccompanied children fairly and humanely.

Sincerely, /s/