SW Arizona News

In a formal letter addressed to President Biden, Representative Michael Carbone (R-Ariz.) and his fellow Arizona House Republicans have voiced their disapproval of the current border control policies. The lawmakers have also criticized the decision made by the Biden Administration to close the Lukeville port of entry.

Carbone stated, "Looking at those crossing the border in droves, they are largely military-aged men, not families in search of a better life as Democrats continually claim." He further expressed his concerns about the administration's approach to immigration, saying, "Your open-border approach to immigration is a national threat that will have disastrous impacts on the entire country."

The letter co-authored by Carbone and 31 other House Republicans included contributions from Representatives Quang Nguyen (R-Ariz.), Alexander Kolodin (R-Ariz.), Joseph Chaplik (R-Ariz.), David Cook (R-Ariz.), Matt Gress (R-Ariz.), among others. The lawmakers pointed out several issues in their letter, such as a 40% increase in southwest border encounters since 2021, nearly 200 attempts by migrants on the terrorist watch list to cross, apprehension of Chinese nationals amid tensions between the United States and China, and the recent closure of the Lukeville Port of Entry.

According to their letter, "The decision to close the Lukeville Port of Entry as a solution to the crisis you created is unacceptable and must be reversed immediately. It is no secret why the border is overwhelmed. Your anti-American open-border policy sent a message to the world: that there will be no consequences for illegal immigration. The real solution is simple. Reverse your policy and put a halt to the wide-open door for so-called 'asylum-seekers'."

Lukeville port was closed at the beginning of December in response to an increase in illegal migrant crossings. As yet, there has been no official announcement regarding how long this closure will last. This uncertainty has led Arizona lawmakers to express their dissatisfaction with the decision made by the Biden Administration. According to an article from the Associated Press, the closure is negatively impacting businesses and individuals as legal cross-border activities, such as shopping, dining, and school commutes for some Mexican children, have been disrupted.

The lawmakers wrote in their letter, "Border states in particular are significantly harmed by your administration’s failed policies every day. Our law enforcement agencies at the border are overextended. Healthcare providers in border communities are overworked to such an extent that they are struggling to provide essential services to the residents of their community in need of care. Your decision to close the Lukeville Port of Entry is just the latest in a long stream of irresponsible policies from your administration that fail to keep Arizona citizens, and all Americans, safe from criminal activity at the border."

Carbone represents District 25 in the Arizona House of Representatives as a member of the Republican Party. He assumed office in January and is a business owner who advocates for school choice, parental freedom, election integrity, border control among other issues according to his biography on Carbone’s website.