Ducey calls on Biden administration to send help to border communities
Arizona governor comes to Yuma to urge federal action - News 11's Crystal Jimenez & CBS 13's Cody Lee break down his visit
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Strong words for President Joe Biden from Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, (R), Wednesday morning following a tour of the U.S./Mexico border in Yuma County.
“There has been no action from the Biden administration, and I call on the federal government to do more to resolve this crisis,” Gov. Ducey said. “Until there is federal action, Arizona is ready to do our part. I am grateful to our state leaders, law enforcement, legislators, and to everyone who has stepped up and offered support during this crisis.”
Yuma Mayor Douglas Nicholls, Yuma County Sheriff Leon Wilmot, and San Luis Mayor Gerardo Sanchez joined Ducey for this tour, as well as to share their common experiences dealing with past, and present, influxes of asylum seekers. A contingency of Republican state lawmakers also accompanied the governor on his visit.
The Governor also received a briefing on Border Patrol operations from Yuma Sector Border Patrol Chief Chris Clem. The Yuma Sector encompasses 126 miles of international border with Mexico, with three checkpoints currently manned by more than 700 Border Patrol agents.
During the visit, some of those agents encountered one of Gov. Ducey's primary concerns along the border - three children, ages 12, 8, and 6, crossing the border on their own.
RELATED: Yuma Border Patrol catches 3 more unaccompanied children crossing border
Gov. Ducey called on the White House to handle both the humanitarian crisis and the border security issues. He said he and his delegation are not anti-immigrant, but they do oppose human traffickers and drug cartels.
The governor's visit comes one day after he issued a Declaration of Emergency for Arizona's southern border. He also is deploying 250 Arizona National Guard troops, as well as state troopers, to assist Border Patrol and local law enforcement in keeping border communities safe.
Watch Gov. Ducey's full comments from the border here:
Sheriff Wilmot says the need for help is there. His deputies are strained trying to handle an increase of human and drug smuggling in his jurisdiction. He says there have been many instances this year of his deputies having to rescue juveniles and females out in the desert.
San Luis Mayor Gerardo Sanchez (D) also applauded the Governor's move to deploy guardsmen to the border. He says, "When I heard that the border patrol is being overwhelmed. When I hear they’re not able to be in our street and our area, that's worrisome because when our officers are in deep trouble or they need something border patrol has always been there. And now we don’t see them."
The Governor says it's his duty to help protect the citizens of Arizona and will do whatever it takes to help border communities like Yuma County.
Other local leaders have spoken in the past for the dire need to get federal funds to help the local non-profits testing the asylum seekers released into the community, their transportation to larger cities, and other expenses.
While some don't agree with the Governor's decision to declare a State of Emergency, Ducey says it was time.
"This is not the first time the National Guard has been called to the Southern border. President Barack Obama called the National Guard. President George W. Bush called the National Guard. President Donald trump called the National Guard. It’s time for President Biden to call the national guard.”
U.S. Customs and Border Protection says in March alone it made more than 170,000 undocumented migrant apprehensions. That's a 15-year high. Nearly 19,000 of those apprehensions were unaccompanied children — more than four times the number of kids apprehended in March 2020.
