U.S. Sens. Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly say they want more money for Arizona’s border communities. Sites along the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona has seen a sharp rise in the number of asylum seekers presenting themselves to border officers in recent weeks.
Customs and Border Protection has closed the Lukeville Port of Entry indefinitely in response, and Gov. Katie Hobbs is preparing to send National Guard troops to various parts of the border.
In a letter to Homeland Security officials, Kelly and Sinema say the federal government should allocate additional money to the Shelter and Services Program — which is responsible for funding and reimbursing costs incurred by aid groups providing food, shelter and transportation for migrants released to await court dates in the U.S.
The senators say that by early next year, local governments providing these services may no longer be able to anymore, without the new funds. They want an update by Dec. 22.
