Arizona’s Democratic Governor has signed an executive order to deploy the National Guard at the state’s border with Mexico, accusing President Joe Biden’s administration of failing to fulfill its duty in addressing immigration issues. The decision comes in response to the suspension of operations at the state’s Lukeville border crossing by U.S. Border Patrol and Customs due to a significant increase in migrant flow, effectively closing the busiest crossing with Mexico.
Governor Katie Hobbs, on Friday, after signing the executive order aimed at reopening the crossing, stated, “Once again, the federal government is failing to do its job to secure our borders and keep our communities safe.” She added, “With this executive order, I am taking action where the federal government has faltered,” explaining that “Arizona needs the resources and workforce to reopen the Lukeville crossing and manage the flow of migrants.”
Despite ongoing requests for assistance, the Biden administration has been accused by Hobbs of refusing to secure the necessary resources at Arizona’s border. The economies of many communities in the region rely on legal immigrants using the Lukeville crossing, and its closure has impacted families living on both sides of the border.
Immigration remains a key issue in the upcoming elections, with the Republican Party aiming to gain control of swing “purple” states like Arizona, putting Hobbs in a challenging position. Last week, Hobbs requested in a letter to the White House the deployment of the National Guard to reopen the Lukeville crossing, in addition to allocating $500 million for expenses.
However, by signing the executive order, Hobbs acknowledges the lack of response from the Biden administration to her requests.
Mexican immigrants in the U.S. are predominantly concentrated in metropolitan areas like Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, and Dallas. Approximately 31% of Mexican immigrants live in these four metro areas.
