One Arizona border sheriff reassured the public that there is no need to be concerned about a sudden increase in migrants at the Arizona-Mexico border before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.
“According to Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels, things are relatively unchanged at the moment. Speaking to KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Arizona’s Morning News on Thursday, he mentioned, ‘Traditionally, we experience a decrease in border activity during Christmas, including the flow of smuggling that we typically witness.’”
The calm period has come to an end.
According to Sheriff Mark Dannels, there has been an increase in activity recently. He mentioned that the situation is improving and his team is actively addressing the issue. The sheriff shared that he heard his officers discussing the matter, indicating that they are actively dealing with the situation at hand.
Dannels stated that the cartels are relentless in their efforts to smuggle migrants across the Mexico border into the U.S.
At the heart of it all, the ultimate goal boils down to maximizing profits.
Sheriff Dannels expressed his belief that the drug trade is an ongoing issue that will not cease anytime soon. He emphasized the significant financial incentives associated with drug trafficking, indicating that criminals will persist in their attempts to continue their illicit activities.
Despite his reservations about Trump’s presidency, he remains optimistic about the Republican’s immigration policies. He believes that these policies will effectively deter migrants from attempting to cross the border illegally.
Sheriff Dannels stated that the authorities are actively targeting terrorists, gang members, and aggravated criminals who have been deported, specifically mentioning the notorious MS-13 gang.
According to his statement, he expressed confidence that Congress will collaborate with Trump regarding his immigration reform plans in 2025 and beyond.
Sheriff Dannels highlighted the overwhelming backlog of 3.6 million asylum and immigration cases awaiting hearings in the United States, which is the highest in the nation’s history. He further emphasized the scarcity of hearing officers, with only 700 available to handle these numerous cases.
During the campaign, Trump received strong criticism for undermining the bipartisan border bill, which had been negotiated in part by former U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona. The bill aimed to allocate funds for additional immigration judges to handle these cases, among other provisions.
According to Dannels, Trump, who will assume office on January 20th, has his own strategies to address the issue.
Sheriff Dannels expressed the significance of the situation, emphasizing the need for an increase in resources. He mentioned that authorities are actively exploring potential solutions to address the issue at hand.
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