On Wednesday, Gov. Doug Ducey joined Texas Governor Greg Abbott and eight other governors in Mission, Texas, for a border security briefing and press conference. While there, the group introduced a ten-point plan for the Biden administration they believe will resolve the border crisis.
In June, Ducey and Abbott sent a letter requesting all U.S. governors send any available law enforcement resources to their states along the U.S.-Mexico border to help with the ongoing border crisis. In July, Idaho Gov. Brad Little sent five Idaho State Police troopers to Arizona for 21 days to help with border security. Ducey sent the Arizona National Guard to the border in April. The 150 Guard members were deployed to the border after Ducey declared a state of emergency due to the high number of migrants crossing into the state from Mexico. They are still there.
“Governors are not going to sit around while President Biden refuses to act,” stated Ducey. “We’ve tried to meet with the president and be part of the solution, but he refuses. No, worse — he ignores governors, just like he’s ignoring the border and the safety of the American people.”
“The White House has suggested there are no solutions or steps they could take on the border. This is false,” Ducey continued. “If the president won’t meet, we have laid out a comprehensive set of policy actions — publicly — that would end the border crisis immediately. President Biden now has everything he needs to stop this crisis.”
The visit comes 16 days after 26 U.S. governors requested a meeting with President Joe Biden. The governors requested an urgent meeting with the president to find meaningful solutions to border issues. President Biden has not responded to the request.
Governor Ducey and Governor Abbott were joined by eight other governors: Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, Idaho Governor Brad Little, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, and Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon.
Texas Department of Public Safety Commissioner Steve McCraw and National Border Patrol Council President Brandon Judd briefed the group on the border situation.
Following the briefing, the governors spoke at a press conference in Anzalduas Park. They outlined the following 10-point border security plan. Gov. Ducey’s press release listed the following recommendations.
The Biden Administration should continue to invoke Title 42 and refuse entry to individuals coming into the country due to the public health risks of COVID-19.
- Dedicate Federal Resources to Eradicate Human Trafficking and Drug Trafficking
Due to the rapid increase of cartel activity, the Biden Administration should dedicate additional resources to eradicate the surge in human and drug trafficking, arrest offenders, support victims, and get dangerous drugs—like fentanyl and methamphetamine—off our streets.
- Resume the Deportation of all Criminals
The Biden Administration should enforce all deportation laws of criminally convicted illegal aliens.
- Re-enter All Agreements with our Northern Triangle Partners and Mexico
President Biden should re-enter the prior administration’s agreement with the Northern Triangle countries—El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras—and Mexico.
- Provide Notice and Transparency To States on Unaccompanied Minors and Migrants
The Biden Administration should instruct the Office of Refugee Resettlement to notify states when the federal government is transporting migrants who will be reliant upon their state’s social safety net.
President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Biden Administration officials at every level should state clearly and unequivocally that our country’s borders are not open and that migrants seeking economic opportunity should not attempt to abuse or misuse the asylum process.
Due to overwhelming needs at the border, the Biden Administration should provide more resources to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
- End “Catch and Release” and Clear the Judicial Backlog
The Biden Administration should end their “catch and release” policy, which leaves illegal immigrants paroled and able to travel anywhere in the country. The Biden administration should also dedicate additional judges and resources to our U.S. immigration courts to end the growing backlog and expedite court appearances for illegal migrants.
The Biden Administration should comply with recent federal court rulings and fully reinstate the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) established by the prior administration, which requires asylum seekers to return to Mexico to await their court hearing outside of the United States.
- Finish Securing the Border
The Biden Administration should reopen construction contracts to continue building the border wall and invest in infrastructure and technology, such as lights, sensors, or access roads, to complete the border security system.
