NE Valley Times

Arizona Rep. David Schweikert utilized platform X, formerly known as Twitter, to criticize the Biden Administration's border policies, labeling them as ineffective. He further shared statistics revealing a 33% increase in illegal border crossings during the month of July.

"Illegal border crossings were up 33% in July, with 40,000 illegal encounters in the Tucson sector alone," Schweikert said. "We need to utilize the resources and tools at our disposal to secure our southern border. It's clear that Biden's open border policies aren't working."

In May, the expiration of Title 42, a measure implemented during the COVID pandemic to curb border crossings, led to its replacement by Title 8, the pre-existing border control policy. Title 8 subjects those who cross illegally to fines of up to $250 and imprisonment for six months to two years per attempt. It also introduces provisions such as requiring border crossers to schedule appointments for asylum applications, welcoming up to 30,000 individuals from Haiti, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba each month with U.S. sponsors, expediting processing, deploying up to 1,500 active-duty military personnel to assist Border Patrol, expanding migrant holding centers, establishing processing centers in other countries for legal crossings, and more, according to NBC News.

Despite the enforcement of Title 8, dissatisfaction prevails over the current border situation, as lawmakers consistently voice concerns about inadequate border control and an escalating crisis. Currently, in Tucson, Arizona, the daily influx of migrants has surged to around 1,900, marking a staggering 134% increase from June's average of 812. The communities of Lukeville and Ajo in Arizona are also facing challenges in accommodating migrants, leading to a situation where many are left outdoors due to overcrowded facilities, especially in the face of recent temperatures exceeding 110 degrees, according to CBS News.

The most significant surge in unauthorized border crossings took place within the Tucson sector, where Border Patrol reported a record-breaking number of almost 40,000 apprehensions during the month of July. The increase in border crossings along the Arizona border is allegedly attributed to the actions of smugglers, as stated by an official from Customs and Border Protection, according to CBS News.

On Monday, news emerged that in the Tucson sector, which is already grappling with the influx of migrants, U.S. authorities have decided to keep 114 large gates welded open along the Arizona border. This decision aims to facilitate the unrestricted flow of water during the annual monsoon season. However, the decision has enabled migrants to enter the country with relative ease, numbering in the thousands, according to the New York Post.