PHX Reporter

Merissa Hamilton, the chairwoman of Strong Communities Action, has expressed her criticism of the current border control policies and the Biden Administration's recent decision to close the Lukeville port of entry.

Hamilton stated, "Closing a legal entry point while keeping the border wide open for an invasion is very on brand for Biden and the Democrats." This comment was made in response to efforts to address a surge in illegal migrant crossings. Lukeville, known as one of the busiest ports, was closed at the beginning of December. However, there has been no official announcement regarding how long this closure will last. This uncertainty has led Arizona lawmakers to express their dissatisfaction with the Biden Administration's decision. According to an article from the Associated Press, this closure is adversely affecting businesses and individuals by disrupting legal cross-border activities such as shopping, dining, and even school commutes for some Mexican children.

Last week, 31 House Republicans including representatives Quang Nguyen (R-Ariz.), Alexander Kolodin (R-Ariz.), Joseph Chaplik (R-Ariz.), David Cook (R-Ariz.), Matt Gress (R-Ariz.) among others addressed their concerns about the border situation in a letter sent to President Biden. The letter highlighted issues such as a 40% increase in southwest border encounters since 2021, nearly 200 attempts by migrants on the terrorist watch list to cross, apprehension of Chinese nationals amid tensions between the United States and China, and the recent closure of the Lukeville Port of Entry.

According to this letter from lawmakers, "The decision to close the Lukeville Port of Entry as a solution to the crisis you created is unacceptable and must be reversed immediately," they wrote. "It is no secret why the border is overwhelmed. Your anti-American open-border policy sent a message to the world: that there will be no consequences for illegal immigration. The real solution is simple. Reverse your policy and put a halt to the wide-open door for so-called 'asylum-seekers'."

Hamilton established Strong Communities Action in 2020 following her unsuccessful mayoral candidacy in Phoenix, where she lost to Kate Gallego (D-Ariz.). According to the Strong Communities Action website, this civic action organization strives to "ensure every voice that wants to be heard by their local leaders is educated, equipped, and empowered to be successful in driving their personal policy goals".