Sens. Sinema, Kelly voice support for Ducey’s border emergency declaration

Apr 20, 2021, 5:43 PM

U.S. Senators Kyrsten Sinema next to Mark Kelly in side by side photo....

U.S. Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly announce $3 million will go to Arizona AmeriCorps members. (AP Photos)

(AP Photos)

KTAR.com

PHOENIX — Arizona’s two Democratic U.S. Senators Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema have voiced their support for Gov. Doug Ducey’s decision to declare a state of emergency at the Arizona-Mexico border.

“There is a crisis on the border and I have pushed the administration for the additional resources, staffing, transportation and the testing necessary to provide a secure, orderly process that does not fall on Arizona communities,” Kelly said in a statement.

Earlier this month, Kelly made his second trip to the U.S.-Mexico border since he took office late last year. The senator toured border operations in Yuma and met with local elected and public health leaders to understand how the surge of migrants is being addressed.

“In visiting the Yuma Sector and speaking with Border Patrol and other local leaders, it’s clear that their resources and staffing are strained,” his statement read. “There are important missions that the Arizona National Guard can perform at the border and the governor calling them up will provide assistance to both local law enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security.”

Under Ducey’s declaration, 250 National Guard members will be heading to border communities to support law enforcement efforts in southern Arizona.

“I welcome the Governor’s action to provide logistical support to Arizona communities, and look forward to hearing more details about how the National Guard will assist,” Sinema said in a statement. “I will continue working closely with Arizona leaders and organizations to support our border communities, secure the border, prevent the spread of COVID-19 and treat all migrants and unaccompanied children fairly and humanely.”

The emergency declaration covers Cochise, Maricopa, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz and Yuma counties.

The state will provide up to $25 million for the mission, according to a press release. The emergency order directs $200,000 from the general fund to the director of the Arizona Division of Emergency Management.