Today Gov. Doug Ducey joined 19 other governors in a call for Joe Biden to take action and reverse their policies regarding the U.S. border. The group wrote a letter to President Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris describing worsening conditions at the border. In April, Gov. Ducey declared a state of emergency at the southern border and deployed the Arizona National Guard to support law enforcement agencies in border regions. In May, the Associated Press reported that the State Emergency Council voted to allocate approximately $2.5 million to help pay for the deployment of 250 National Guard personnel to free up law enforcement officers in border towns along the Arizona-Mexico border.
According to the press release, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported 172,000 encounters, the highest number in nearly 20 years, well as 18,890 unaccompanied children, the largest monthly number in history.
Ducey stated, “As a border state, Arizona is on the front lines of the border crisis. We feel the impacts of human trafficking, drug smuggling and this humanitarian crisis first. Now, the Biden-Harris border crisis is affecting other states too. And it’s clear the crisis is the direct result of this administration’s broken policies and botched messaging.”
“Arizona has deployed all available resources, including the National Guard, but we need federal cooperation to secure the border,” Governor Ducey continued. “Today, I am joining 19 fellow governors to call for immediate action from President Biden and Vice President Harris to stop this crisis before it gets even worse.”
Ducey posted on Twitter, “Joined 19 fellow governors to call on the @JoeBiden & @KamalaHarris administration to end their destructive policies that have created the crisis at the border. Arizona has deployed the National Guard, but we need federal cooperation to secure the border.”
Joined 19 fellow governors to call on the @JoeBiden & @KamalaHarris administration to end their destructive policies that have created the crisis at the border. Arizona has deployed the National Guard, but we need federal cooperation to secure the border. READ our letter: pic.twitter.com/9uc4Ey1bKd
— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) May 11, 2021
Part of the letter states, “This Administration has enticed a rush of migrants to our border and incentivized an influx of illegal
crossings by using irresponsible rhetoric and reversing a slew of policies—from halting border wall construction to eliminating asylum agreements to refusing to enforce immigration laws.”
The letter concluded, stating, “At a time when our country is trying to recover from a once-in-a-generation pandemic, the last thing we
need is a self-created crisis that exploits families, undermines public safety, and threatens our national security. We urge you to take action to end the humanitarian crisis and secure our southern border immediately.”
Other governors who signed the letter are Governors Bill Lee, Tennessee; Kay Ivey, Alabama; Asa Hutchinson, Arkansas; Brian Kemp, Georgia; Brad Little, Idaho; Eric Holcomb, Indiana; Kim Reynolds, Iowa; Tate Reeves, Mississippi; Mike Parson, Missouri; Greg Gianforte, Montana; Pete Ricketts, Nebraska; Chris Sununu, New Hampshire; Doug Burgum, North Dakota; Kevin Stitt, Oklahoma; Henry McMaster, South Carolina; Kristi Noem, South Dakota; Greg Abbott, Texas; Spencer Cox, Utah; and Mark Gordon, Wyoming.
