LUKEVILLE, AZ — The Lukeville Port of Entry reopened on Thursday after a month-long closure due to an increase in migrant encounters on the border.
ABC15 crews at the point of entry Thursday morning saw a small line of cars waiting to cross, which did begin crossing through the port starting at 6 a.m.
Operations were set to resume at the Eagle Pass International Bridge I in Eagle Pass, Texas, and the San Ysidro Port of Entry Pedestrian West crossing in San Diego on Thursday as well.
The Lukeville border crossing had been closed since December 4. Just days after the border closed, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs visited the border to see the situation on the ground. At that time, she also announced she had sent a letter to President Biden asking for the National Guard to be sent to the border to help the situation.
President Biden did not send National Guard troops to the border during the closure.
A week after sending the letter to the White House, Hobbs announced she was sending Arizona Guard troops to the border. Those who were deployed helped local law enforcement with border enforcement activities.
As the closure continued, the effects of the shutdown started to impact the day-to-day lives of Arizonans and residents in Mexico who cross the border regularly.
Barb's Dog Rescue, located in Puerto Peñasco, started having trouble getting food for its animals as food donations came from Arizona.
The closure also started to impact residents and their medical care. One dentist told ABC15 last month that the closure wiped out 90% of her business at the time. Others were driving hours to get their medications at the Lukeville Post Office.
UPDATE: Pima County leaders have arrived to the Lukeville Port of Entry. We just wrapped up an interview with them and learned they will be meeting with Why, Ajo & Sonoyta leaders & business owners within the hour. @abc15 pic.twitter.com/EBLbPX1iy4
— Ashley Paredez (@AshleyOnABC15) January 4, 2024
CBP shared the following statement Tuesday about the reopening plans:
“CBP will continue to prioritize our border security mission as necessary in response to this evolving situation. We continue to assess security situations, adjust our operational plans, and deploy resources to maximize enforcement efforts against those noncitizens who do not use lawful pathways or processes – such as scheduling an appointment via CBP One™ – and those without a legal basis to remain in the United States.“Members of the traveling public can check operational status, including Port of Entry wait times here.”
RELATED: Barb's Dog Rescue feeling negative effects of Lukeville port of entry closure
Representative Greg Stanton shared a statement following the announcement:
"During one of the busiest months for cross-border commerce and tourism, our understaffed and under-resourced Border Patrol was forced to close a vital port of entry. Border communities can't keep paying the price for the federal government's failures. Congress must come together to pass emergency supplemental funds to hire more officers and surge resources to secure our border."
After the POE closed in December, Stanton and Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani called on [stanton.house.gov] DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to provide a timeline for reopening Lukeville.
As the New Democrat Coalition's Immigration and Border Security Task Force Chair, Stanton has led the call [stanton.house.gov] for a vote on the Administration's request for $13.6 billion in emergency supplemental border security funding. The supplemental appropriations would, in part, go to hire an additional 1,300 Border Patrol agents to maintain border security and 1,600 Asylum Officers and 375 immigration judge teams to hear migrant claims."
Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly shared a statement on the reopening of the Lukeville Port of Entry and the Morley Gate in Nogales:
“Following our calls, we’re relieved that the Lukeville Port of Entry and Morley Gate are reopening – but in Arizona, we continue to experience the devastating effects of this unacceptable closure and our broken border system.
“Arizona’s border communities are in crisis – and closing Lukeville and redirecting port officers to help U.S. Border Patrol process migrants due to a broken border system further destabilized our border and disrupted trade and tourism our economy depends on.
“While reopening these border crossings is critical, it doesn’t solve our broken border and immigration system. The longer Congress and the Administration fail to adequately respond, the more we risk future closures and disruptions. We’re renewing our call for both sides to reject the echo chamber and work with us to make meaningful progress, secure our border, and keep our communities safe."