Sen. Sinema of Arizona emphasizes need for technology after border visit

PHOENIX — U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona emphasized the need for more technology at the border after a visit Tuesday to the nation’s busiest port of entry.

Sinema, who serves as chair of the border management subcommittee, toured the San Ysidro port of entry at the border between Mexico and California just north of Tijuana.

She told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Gaydos and Chad the tour helped her understand the full scope of challenges at the border.

“I actually saw a vehicle that was stopped for smuggling drugs,” Sinema said. “I was inside a small trailer watching on an X-ray machine as a vehicle came through with drugs smuggled in the spare tire.

“One of the things I have reaffirmed my commitment to is investing in the technology that our CBP officials need to effectively detect and deter this type of illegal entry.”

Sinema added she recently chaired a hearing that focused on border security challenges at ports of entry and wanted to understand how to improve the efficiency of the flow of trade and travel through the country’s ports of entry while also increasing security from smugglers who bring drugs and people across the border.

“Visiting one of the busiest ports of entry in the entire world today helped me see some of the challenges that they face that are unique to this part of the country.

“Technology matters and we need to continue increasing our investment in technology for border patrol agents who are at these ports of entry who are questioning individuals and looking for signs of suspicious activity.”

Sinema also witnessed a vehicle that was turned around just before the port of entry with a family inside that was coming to seek asylum and were turned over to the Mexican police.

“Those are just two things that I saw within 30 minutes this morning,” she said.

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