Democratic Arizona gubernatorial hopeful Marco Lopez says feds have failed at border

PHOENIX — A Democratic Arizona candidate for governor with an expansive history around border issues says the federal government has failed to prevent what he called a “chaotic situation” in southern parts of the state.

Marco Lopez, who served as chief of staff for Customs and Border Protection and mayor of Nogales, told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show on Friday federal leaders haven’t properly addressed and streamlined the process to get immigrants into the country in an organized, timely manner.

He said the lack of proper action has failed immigrants, ports of entry and the state of Arizona.

“We should have the systems in place to properly process [immigrants], because when we don’t, we see the chaos that happens in between the ports of entry,” Lopez said.

“People are seeking to go around the system because it requires them to wait in line six or seven years when they want to have a better life for their family now.”

Lopez’s solution is to properly process goods and people crossing the border, which he believes could help temper issues with overcrowdings and illegal crossings.

His plan differs from that of Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, who has routinely criticized the Biden administration on border issues in the past year.

Ducey, in his State of the State address last Monday, called for more resources, stricter criminal penalties, the resumption of construction of the wall and stronger coordination with federal leaders in his final year in office.

Lopez promised as governor, his offerings for improved border policy would happen.

“You’re going to see a governor that actually understands the issue, is going to stand up on behalf of Arizonans to push federal government to make real solutions to a problem at the ports of entry and in between the ports of entry,” Lopez said.

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