Border State Lawmaker Unveils ‘Drastic’ Reforms Possible with Major Congressional Move

Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.) says that the rapid policy changes made by the Trump Administration have improved life for many border residents.

The Republican said in an interview that they were “very happy” about the changes. He called the shift “drastic.”

According to United States Customs and Border Protection, the number of migrants encountered at the border dropped in February. The figure was just above 8,300. This is the lowest monthly total since the officials began keeping records.

It is only one part of the equation that the reduction of crossings has been achieved. After Donald Trump took office, more troops were deployed to the border. Cartels and gangs such as Tren de Aragua have been designated foreign terrorist organizations. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has conducted raids across the country for immigrants suspected of crimes.

Some people have seen an immediate improvement in their everyday lives. Ciscomani spoke about the people in his community who are near or on the border.

In his capacity as the Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, Ciscomani is leading the freshman GOP class on an Arizona border trip this week, where they will visit ports of entry, strike up conversations with authorities on the ground, and take a tour with the National Border Patrol Council. The group of lawmakers includes Reps. Mike Kennedy, R-Utah; Julie Fedorchak, R-ND; Jeff Hurd, R-Colo.; Tim Moore, R-N.C.; Derek Schmidt, R-Kan.; Dave Taylor, R-Ohio; Jeff Crank, R-Colo.; John McGuire, R-Va.; and Riley Moore, R-W.Va. 

Ciscomani said, “When I arrived in Washington several years ago, it was clear that many people ran on border issues. They care to fix it and address it, but many members haven’t been able to see the border. Even if they’ve never been, they likely visited the Texas area. Arizona is so special in many different ways.”

There is still more work to do to ensure that the Trump Administration’s changes are permanent, to avoid another border crisis. During former president Joe Biden’s administration, there were millions of encounters with migrants.

Ciscomani is a member of a district with incredibly high levels of competition, including many suburbs of Tucson. He praised the passage in the House of his Agent Raul Gonzalez Office Safety Act, which will make anyone convicted of fleeing the authorities in an area within 100 miles from the border, face jail time, and possibly be deported depending on their immigration status. Others criticized the bill as an excessive measure.

“For example, the asylum process, we have to increase the credible fear standard,” Ciscomani said. “Things like Remain in Mexico. I think something like that should be permanent. So we’ve got some ideas on this through reconciliation.”

It is possible to do bipartisan work, such as a bill being worked on by Ciscomani, D.C. and Rep. Don Davis D.C. to have technicians working at the ports of entry to detect illicit drugs more quickly and thoroughly.