Arizona’s Ducey calls on Biden to act after migrants rush border: ‘Mr. President, do something – do anything’
Ducey and many other Republicans have long criticized Biden – as well as Vice President Kamala Harris -- for a lack of action on border issues
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Arizona’s Republican governor said Tuesday he plans to deploy the state’s National Guard personnel and strategize with Border Patrol officials after thousands of migrants rushed the state’s border with Mexico in recent days, according to reports.
Gov. Doug Ducey traveled to Yuma, saying the state’s border crisis has been "escalating" there, and called on President Biden to send a forceful federal response to the state as well.
"Mr. President, do something – do anything," Ducey said at a news conference, KPNX-TV of Phoenix reported.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The governor spoke near an opening in the barrier that separates Arizona and Mexico, drawing attention to the unfinished border wall that the GOP has called for in recent years.
ARIZONA AG SLAMS BIDEN ADMIN'S ‘CLUMSY, HAM-FISTED’ DISTRACTION TACTICS ON BORDER CRISIS
Ducey and many other Republicans have long criticized Biden – as well as Vice President Kamala Harris and other administration officials, claiming the Democrats haven’t adequately responded to the migrant surge and related issues that have affected U.S. border communities.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Officials joining Ducey in Yuma said an estimated 5,000 migrants attempted to enter the area Sunday, KPNX reported.
Another 1,500 migrants tried to enter the Yuma area on Monday, according to Border Report.
Arizona Republican Gov. Doug Ducey speaks during a news conference in Phoenix, Dec. 2, 2020. (Associated Press)
"There just aren’t enough agents," to handle calls coming in to 911 about migrants, one Border Patrol agent told the Yuma Sun newspaper.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The governor’s visit came one day after former President Trump’s "Remain in Mexico" policy was reinstated by the Biden administration after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a Texas judge’s order for the policy to resume, according to KPNX.
But Ducey asserted Tuesday that aspects of Remain in Mexico that were helping Texas control its borders were pushing more migrants toward Arizona.
The governor said the National Guard would be sending 24 Guard members, six vehicles, four all-terrain vehicles, and one light utility helicopter to the Yuma region to help control the border in that area, KPNX reported.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}While Ducey was speaking, KPNX cameras covering the news conference caught images of nearly a dozen immigrants trying to cross into Arizona, the report said.
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In a Facebook post earlier this month, U.S. Border Patrol Yuma Sector reported numerous large groups trying to enter during Thanksgiving weekend in late November. The groups included 69, 52, and 67 people on Thanksgiving; 63, 54, 117, and 72 people on Nov. 26; 140 and 65 people on Nov. 27; and 51, 80, 82, 58, and 58 people on Nov. 28, the post said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Arriving migrants were found to be from nearly 30 countries: Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Georgia, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Lebanon, Mexico, Nepal, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Spain, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Venezuela.