The border security situation in Douglas, Arizona, is marked by significant challenges, making it a critical route for migrants entering the United States. The area experiences a high number of migrant encounters, partly due to the diversion of migrant flows from more heavily fortified and monitored sections of the border in Texas.

Senator Kyrsten Sinema has highlighted the severe impacts on local communities, emphasizing the strain on resources and the need for upgraded border infrastructure. For instance, the Raul H. Castro Land Port of Entry in Douglas is in dire need of development, with $216 million allocated for a new commercial port and $186 million for rehabilitation of the existing port through a bipartisan infrastructure law she supported. Despite these efforts, the area continues to experience street releases of migrants due to insufficient shelter funding, exacerbating local tensions and resource scarcity​.

The Tucson sector, which encompasses Douglas, has become increasingly busy, with Border Patrol officers reporting a significant number of encounters. Migrants often choose this sector because it lacks the extensive physical barriers and law enforcement presence found in Texas, making crossings somewhat easier. However, this influx has overwhelmed local holding facilities and shelters, such as Casa Alitas in Tucson, which struggle to meet the needs of the high volume of migrants.

In this episode, we hear from a Rancher who details his struggles as he attempts to navigate the new normal.

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to contact me:

bobbycapucci@protonmail.com


source:

Exclusive | Border smuggling booms despite drop in migrant crossings (nypost.com)