The closure of Lukeville Port of Entry: Major Arizona border crossing to shut down amid recent surge in migrants entering US
PHOENIX, ARIZONA: The Lukeville Port of Entry, a major border crossing in Arizona, is set to shut down. This decision reportedly comes in response to the recent surge in migrant crossings, which has put immense pressure on border control resources.
Starting from Monday, December 4, 2023, all pedestrian and vehicle movement at the crossing will be put on hold until further notice, as declared by Customs and Border Protection on Friday.
Where is Lukeville Port of Entry located?
Lukeville is located in the Tucson Sector of the Border Patrol at the southern end of Highway 85, which originates in Buckeye and passes through Gila Bend en route to Mexico.
It serves as the primary crossing point for travelers moving between the Phoenix area and the tourist spot of Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point).
The nearest major border crossings, the Nogales Port of Entry to the south of Tucson and the San Luis Port of Entry near Yuma, are both over 200 miles away in either direction.
Personnel reassigned, crossing bridges closed amid migrant surge
Staffers, who typically oversee the crossing, will be reassigned to assist the Border Patrol, a part of CBP, in detaining migrants.
The staffing level at Lukeville was recently decreased for the same purpose. In addition, one of the two-vehicle bridges at Eagle Pass, Texas, the crossing has been shut down.
"In response to increased levels of migrant encounters at the Southwest Border, fueled by smugglers peddling disinformation to prey on vulnerable individuals, CBP is surging all available resources to expeditiously and safely process migrants. CBP will continue to prioritize our border security mission as necessary in response to this evolving situation," the agency stated, as per KTAR News.
Arizona senators and governor address border crisis
Under Title 8, individuals and families who arrive without authorization will be subject to removal and noncitizens can be returned to their country of origin. Do not put your life at risk by taking the dangerous journey only to be sent back.
— CBP (@CBP) December 1, 2023
Learn ➡️ https://t.co/YwgPcKPlSE pic.twitter.com/2fnW6sHYMl
Senators Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema, along with Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, have issued a joint statement addressing the crisis at Arizona’s border communities.
They highlighted the lack of resources for frontline workers managing the influx of migrants crossing the border, which currently stands at over 2,000 daily in the Tucson sector.
As a response, the CBP has decided to temporarily shut down the Lukeville, Arizona Port of Entry.
Officers, who would typically oversee the daily travel of workers and tourists, crucial for local businesses and the economy, will now be redirected to assist the US Border Patrol in processing migrants.
"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 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 statement further read.
"At this time, all available personnel are needed to address the unprecedented flow. The social media team will return once the situation permits," Chief Patrol Agent John Modlin said in a Facebook post.
"We will continue to post our week in review statistics, demonstrating the continued efforts of our agents and staff," he added.
