Border Mayors Call for Presidential Visit to Address Local Needs

In a recent interview, Nogales Mayor Jorge Maldonado emphasized the urgent need for more Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel as he returned from a meeting in Mexico. Despite the overwhelming media focus on illegal crossings, Maldonado highlighted that legal crossers are often overlooked and require better support. He noted that while the Tucson sector has seen a rise in migrant encounters, Nogales has not faced the same level of border crossing challenges as other regions. Maldonado pointed out the economic benefits of legal crossers, stating, "These are the people that are going to come into our country and leave their money." The statistics reflect a significant increase in migrant encounters, with numbers soaring from 303,916 to 1,734,686 during the transition from the Trump to Biden administrations. This surge has prompted discussions about the effectiveness of current immigration policies, particularly those that restrict asylum eligibility and facilitate the removal of individuals crossing illegally. Nicholls, a local advocate, expressed frustration over the delayed response from the Biden administration, noting that recent executive orders align with long-standing community needs but come too late. He urged the next presidential administration to collaborate with countries like Mexico to create incentives for cooperative immigration solutions rather than merely acting as a transit point. The call for comprehensive immigration reform is echoed by many, with hopes that Congress will take action, although skepticism remains about the speed of legislative processes. The focus is on establishing policies that address the root causes of immigration challenges effectively.