PHX Reporter

U.S. Congressional Candidate Blake Masters (R-AZ-8) today said Gov. Katie Hobbs’ (D-Ariz.) “does not actually want to secure the border” following Hobbs’ request for $752 million in funding for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Shelter and Services Program (SSP).

“Katie Hobbs wants $752 million from the federal government to help house illegal aliens and make our border problem worse — she does not actually want to secure the border,” Masters told PHX Reporter. “We need to deport illegals and stop new ones from coming over, period.”

“You can bet that Katie Hobbs won’t sign on to that proposal!” said Masters.

Hobbs sent a letter to members of the U.S. Senate and House Appropriations committee today asking for “substantial allocation of no less than $$752 million” towards the SSP. In the upcoming FY2024 Homeland Security funding bill. 

The SSP was enacted in 2022 as a result of the FY2023 Bipartisan Year-End Omnibus signed by President Biden. The program provides temporary shelter and other services to illegal aliens who have been processed and released by U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) custody, while they await the outcome of their immigration proceedings.

The program provides money to state and local governments, non-profit organizations, and other entities, to fund the “humane” release of illegal aliens from short-term holding facilities. The program reimburses various services such as food, shelter, transportation, and medical care.

Hobbs’ request comes a week after she vetoed a bill that would have made it illegal for a person to enter Arizona by crossing the U.S.-Mexico border outside of an official port of entry. 

Sponsored by Sen. Janae Shamp (R-Surprise), that bill, SB 1231, the "Border Invasion Act," also would have provided civil liability to state or local government officials who enforce the law.

SB 1231 had passed both the Arizona House and Senate without a single Democrat vote. 

Masters is one of four candidates currently running in the Republican primary to represent the 8th Congressional District. The district is currently represented by U.S. Rep. Debbie Lesko (R), who announced last year that she will be retiring at the end of the current term.

He told the Grand Canyon Times Podcast last month that he would be a "relentless warrior for border security" and that President Trump endorsed his 2022 U.S. Senate campaign because Trump knew Masters "was strong on the border."

Masters announced in January that his campaign has raised $1.3 million to date.

He ran for U.S. Senate in 2022, losing to incumbent U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly (D) by a vote of 51.4% to 46.5%. Kelly reportedly outspent Masters by $66 million in that race.

After growing up and attending high school in Tucson, Masters graduated from Stanford University and received his J.D. from Stanford Law School. He then co-founded legal research startup Judicata.

He is co-author of the bestselling business book, “Zero to One: Notes on a Startup” with Peter Thiel, and served as president of the Thiel Foundation. Masters married his wife, Catherine, in 2012 and they have three sons.