Kelly, Sinema Deliver Key Priorities Securing the Border, Keeping Arizona Communities Safe, and Ensuring Safe and Orderly Process 

Kelly and Sinema secure critical funding for improved border security technology, Border Patrol hiring and retention, and non-governmental organizations 

Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema delivered key priorities to help Arizona manage the current migrant crisis and secure the border, keep Arizona communities safe, and ensure migrants are treated fairly and humanely.

“The crisis at the border continues to put a strain on our communities and law enforcement as they work to maintain a safe and orderly process. It’s critical that we are bringing needed technology, personnel, and other resources to improve border security. I’ll keep working with my Republican and Democratic colleagues in the Senate and continue pushing the Biden administration to ensure Arizona does not bear the cost of this crisis,” said Senator Kelly.

“Arizona’s border communities, non-profit organizations, and our Department of Homeland Security Agents and Officers serve on the front lines of the migrant crisis. These critical resources will help secure the border through improved technology and additional personnel, manage the flow of migrants to keep Arizona communities safe, and provide Arizona non-profits and DHS the resources needed to ensure migrants are treated fairly and humanely,” said Sinema, Chair of the Senate Border Management Subcommittee.

Among the priorities Kelly and Sinema secured for border management are:

Hiring and Retention: $100 million for Border Patrol hiring and retention, and an additional $23million for onsite mental health clinicians and resiliency efforts for CBP.

Border Management Capacity: Over $993 million to CBP and $239 million to ICE for border management costs, including migrant processing, transportation, personnel overtime, and other costs associated with border management requirements. 

Border Security Technology: $276 million for border security technology acquisition and deployment.

Ports of Entry Technology: $55 million for non-intrusive inspection systems to reach 100 percent screening and enhance CBP’s effectiveness in detecting illicit goods while increasing the efficiency of the ports. Additional $10 million for other technology for Ports of Entry.

Dennis DeConcini Port of Entry: $500,000 for a feasibility study to develop a plan to modernize the Port to improve border security and efficiency of cross-border travel and trade.

Joint Processing Centers: $200 million for two permanent processing facilities near the border to help manage migrant flows, improve efficiency, and protect migrants and communities. 

Emergency Food and Shelter Program: $150 million for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program, representing a 36 percent increase from the previous year. Funding goes to non-governmental organizations and communities so they do not have to bear the costs related to an influx in migrants including food, shelter, transportation, and other services.

Transportation: Expansion of transportation authority, giving DHS better ability to manage border surges and relieve strains on communities.  

Asylum Processing: $275 million to address the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services backlog by hiring additional personnel, including asylum officers and refugee officers.v