The governor of the Mexican state of Sonora is urging the United States to reopen the southwest border crossing between the Sonoran city of Sonoyta and Lukeville, Arizona.
Citing “increased levels of migrant encounters,” Customs and Border Protection (CBP) made the unilateral decision to close the Lukeville Port of Entry beginning on Monday, Dec. 4, affecting pedestrian and vehicle traffic between Sonora and Arizona.
Over the weekend, Governor Alfonso Durazo posted a video to social media platform X calling on the U.S. government to find migratory solutions beyond border closures and cautioning that the shutdown would negatively impact commercial, tourist and social relations between the two countries.
“No one can deny that the migratory situation is extremely complex, but the solution does not lie in closing border crossings; the Government of Sonora has made an extraordinary and unprecedented effort, both in terms of economic and human resources, to humanely respond to people traveling through our state,” added Durazo.
The Lukeville Port of Entry receives a mix of northbound migrants, cargo truck crossings and southbound tourists heading for Rocky Point, a resort area on the Gulf of California. It is part of the Tucson border sector, which recently registered the highest level of migrant encounters along the U.S.-Mexico border.
According to the Associated Press, migrants are entering the U.S. through gaps in the wall west of Lukeville, then heading east toward Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. This new entry pattern has resulted in overwhelming numbers of arrivals to Ajo Border Patrol Station, located 28 miles north of Lukeville. Sector Chief John Modlin said on Friday that border authorities made 17,500 arrests for illegal crossings just in the past week.
Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema, along with Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, expressed their criticism of the closure and joined Sonora Governor Durazo in demanding alternative solutions at the border.
“This is an unacceptable outcome that further destabilizes our border, risks the safety of our communities and damages our economy by disrupting trade and tourism,” the Arizona representatives said in a joint statement. “The Federal Government must act swiftly to maintain port of entry operations, get the border under control, keep Arizona communities safe and ensure the humane treatment of migrants.”
The United States has temporarily closed several official ports of entry along its border with Mexico in the past year, redirecting CBP personnel to areas experiencing high numbers of illegal crossings.
CBP is directing international travelers to cross either through the Nogales ports of entry, over 200 miles east of Lukeville, or through the San Luis Port of Entry, about 130 miles west of Lukeville.
With reports from Forbes, The Associated Press and AZCentral
It is encouraging to have leaders in both Sonora and Arizona espouse the same concerns regarding the border between our two nations. The complexities that Govenor Durazo mentions need the competent leardership being echoed by all four leaders.
The politization of borders does not foster understanding or solutions. It exacerbates them.
Case in point the currently unfolding tragedy in Gaza.
To break a border between two Democracies for short term political gains is shortsighted and, quite frankly, foolish. The United States and Mexico are brothers. Those of us that live in the border regions understand this. National leaders that govern successfully listen to the citizenry that have a human and commercial stake in where they live.
The closing of the Lukeville crossing is a skirmish. One can not win a battle without winning the skirmishes.
I encourage all parties continue to put the people first.
It will all work out for the best interest of all concerned.
Many or most of these people are breaking US law. No border where current law is broken 1000 x a day will not end well.
Democrats are morons.
Trump 2024
Deport them all back to their country of origin.
Pressed by Sean Hannity to promise not to abuse power, Donald Trump agreed he wouldn’t, “other than Day 1,” adding: “We’re closing the border. And we’re drilling, drilling, drilling. After that, I’m not a dictator.”
Closing the border on Day 1
If Trump is elected he intends to build mega-camps in the US to house immigrants before deporting them.
US Military action against the cartels in Mexico if Trump is elected.
All of this begs the question of keeping tensions between Mexico and the US under control. Mexico is the US’s largest trading partner. Everything from cars/trucks to avocados and, of course, tourism – the beautiful beaches of Mexico are filled up with people from the US.
2024 is going to be an exciting year for both countries. A new president for Mexico (a woman) and another crazy election in the US.
Mexico does little to nothing to stop the migrant and drug invasion, much less to show control of the border that is mostly controlled by the cartels.
thus, not only Arizona, but all crossings should be closed until the Narco President is ousted/replaced and there is lawful control of the Mexico side
we hope a new President of the United States keeps the promise to eliminate all cartel members as they cross or in Mexico if Mexico continuest to play stupid.
I am sorry for the bi-national bunisses loses, then again let’s have the affected entities demand control so the flow of legal and necessary trade continues
We need new immigrants in the US, but we need to know who comes into our home before they come in
If there weren’t a demand for drugs in the US, the cartel would be out of business. Our society is in decline and people find it easier to do drugs than seek help and find meaningful employment.
i agree with the problem of demand of drugs. However, the cartels are also into the human traffic and modern slavery business. Considering that most of the central and south American migrants are escaping poverty and crime, they owe thousands of dollars when they have crossed. If they are so poor, how are they going to pay the cartels? wages, prostitution, etc. Either way they have to be eliminated. As they also control most border crossings above and beyond the authorities in both sides