ARIZONA NEWS

Arizona’s Sinema, Kelly criticize Congress over lack of immigration action

Dec 21, 2022, 9:56 AM

During speeches Tuesday on the U.S. Senate floor, Arizona Sens. Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly took fellow lawmakers to task for failure to enact significant immigration reforms.

Sinema said she’s “disappointed” Congress didn’t pass any long-term solutions during the session that is about to end. She plans to bring a bipartisan group of her colleagues to Arizona next month for a first-hand look at the situation on the southern border.

“One of the first things I will do is convene a bipartisan group of senators who are willing and committed to get stuff done and bring them to the border to see what Arizonans see every day — because a crisis this big cannot be ignored,” said Sinema, who recently changed her affiliation from Democrat to independent.

Kelly called on federal lawmakers to “to work together to reform the broken immigration system.”

“There is a lot left to do and I’ll keep working with them towards a secure, humane and orderly process at our border,” the Democrat said.

“But ultimately, Congress needs to step up, too. We must do our jobs.”

Kelly said law enforcement and humanitarian organizations in southern Arizona are struggling to deal with record numbers of border crossings.

“This is unsustainable, and a change to the Title 42 authority now is only going to make those challenges worse,” he said.

Title 42 is a public-health rule used 2.5 million times since March 2020 to expel asylum seekers on the grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts issued a temporary order Monday to keep the pandemic-era limits in place. Before Roberts issued that order, the restrictions were slated to expire on Wednesday.

The Biden administration asked the Supreme Court on Tuesday to delay the end of Title 42 until at least after Christmas.

Sinema said lifting Title 42 without adequate preparation would be “a humanitarian and security nightmare.”

“Already, our border towns can barely keep up with the demand from the overwhelming levels of immigration,” she said.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Arizona News

What happened before man found dead by suicide in Mesa?...

Serena O'Sullivan

Suspect in fatal shooting found dead by apparent suicide in Mesa, police say

A Mesa man accused of fatally shooting a man in his 30s in a domestic violence incident on Tuesday was found dead by suicide, police said.

30 minutes ago

Karrin Taylor Robson...

Kevin Stone

Karrin Taylor Robson announces 2nd run for governor of Arizona

Karrin Taylor Robson, who unsuccessfully ran for governor of Arizona in 2022, announced Wednesday she is running again in 2026.

2 hours ago

Phoenix police officers shot and killed a suspect near Williams Field and and Higley roads in Gilbe...

KTAR.com

Man killed, woman wounded in overnight shooting involving Phoenix police officers in Gilbert

A man was killed and a woman was injured in an overnight shooting involving Phoenix Police Department officers in Gilbert, authorities said Wednesday.

3 hours ago

A Scottsdale estate with a Jordan shoe display and a full basketball gym was listed for $23.5 milli...

Kevin Stone

Furnished Scottsdale estate with basketball gym, Jordan sneaker display listed for $23.5M

A basketball lover’s dream home is on the market in north Scottsdale, but you better have plenty of space under your salary cap if you want to buy it.

4 hours ago

Uranium mining...

Kevin Stone

Arizona GOP leader wants Trump administration to remove uranium mining restrictions

Arizona's Republican Senate president is hoping the Trump administration will undo actions by former presidents that curtail uranium mining in the state.

5 hours ago

Follow @kstonezone...

Sponsored Content by Bright Wealth Management

How updating your estate plan is crucial in saving money

As you map out your estate plan, mapping out beneficiaries and keeping it up to date is key in order for the most funds possible to be passed down with ease.

Sponsored Articles

...

Collins Comfort Masters

Collins Comfort Masters: Your go-to plumbing experts in Arizona

Collins Comfort Masters, a trusted name in HVAC, water and plumbing since 1985, is you go-to plumbers for the residents of Phoenix and the Valley.

...

Bright Wealth Management

How to start your retirement planning early and avoid costly mistakes

Retirement planning can feel overwhelming, but with the right guidance, you can avoid costly pitfalls.

...

Bright Wealth Management

How to save money on retirement planning following 2024 election

PHOENIX -- With the 2024 election over, economic changes could impact how people plan for retirement as 2025 is on the horizon.

Arizona’s Sinema, Kelly criticize Congress over lack of immigration action