Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has asked the federal government for $752 million to pay for migrant services and shelters.
In a letter sent to the Senate and House Appropriations Committees, Hobbs, a Democrat, requested the sum be paid to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Shelter and Services Program, with the funding requested from the Homeland Security appropriations bill. The program helps nonfederal organizations assist migrants released from the custody of the Department of Homeland Security.
In the letter, Hobbs wrote that services in her state were "on the brink of operational limitations," and that without the funding "critical services could be compromised." The requested funding would be used not only for Arizona but also to aid with the migrant crisis across the U.S.-Mexico border. Newsweek has contacted Hobbs for comment via email outside of normal working hours.
Arizona is among the states on the U.S.-Mexico border that have struggled with an influx of migrants attempting to cross in recent months. Illegal crossings surged at the end of 2023, with border officials reporting a record high of 250,000. In January, 176,205 encounters were recorded, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a statement.
"I write to you today with a sense of urgency on behalf of the people of Arizona," Hobbs wrote in the letter, dated March 12. "As Governor, it is my duty to ensure the safety and well-being of our communities, especially in the face of challenges posed by border security."
She also said the funding included provisions needed to tackle drug trafficking and increase the presence of border personnel along the southern border.
In a press release issued on March 13, Hobbs said: "My state has done everything possible to deliver safety and security to those communities, but we need Congress to step up and do its job.
"It is unacceptable that the security of everyday Arizonans has taken a backseat to political games in Washington, DC, forcing working families in my state to bear the burden of congressional inaction. It's time to prioritize practical solutions over political maneuvers."
Leaders in Arizona have said they hope lawmakers listen to the funding plea, with Yuma Police Chief Thomas Garrity saying border communities in his county, where part of the U.S.-Mexico border is located, are often forgotten.
He told Fox 10: "I hope that Washington just listens to what we here on the border need. Sometimes we're forgotten. You hear about San Diego, you hear about Tucson, you hear about Eagle Pass, but they forget about that here in Yuma. We face this every day.
"For us and the border patrol to be able to process the people coming through there in a timely manner, these funds would help greatly."
"With the beginning of the end of federal funding without a continuing resolution or approved budget, it could cause dramatic issues with our nonprofits," Yuma Mayor Douglas Nicholls told the outlet.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
fairness meter
To Rate This Article
About the writer
Aliss Higham is a Newsweek reporter based in Glasgow, Scotland. Her focus is reporting on issues across the U.S., including ... Read more
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.
