/ Modified feb 7, 2017 3:05 p.m.

Focus on Arizona Border at Homeland Security Hearing

Secretary Kelly announced he'll visit the border between Arizona and Mexico.

Border Patrol helicopter mountain desert spot An Air and Marine EC-120B helicopter rests in Sunday Pass in Arizona's southwest desert, in 2009.
Courtesy of U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Arizona’s border with Mexico was a key topic of discussion in a U.S. House Homeland Security Committee hearing today.

Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly opened the meeting with a statement that included the news he will visit the border between Arizona and Mexico later this week.

Tucson Republican Representative Martha McSally asked Kelly why the Border Patrol continues to use fixed checkpoints, such as one on Interstate 19.

“Fixed checkpoints that make the cartels go around the checkpoints into our communities while you catch Darwin Award winning low level criminals going through fixed checkpoints. It doesn’t work,” McSally said.

Yuma County Sheriff Leon Wilmot testified, saying the federal government should reimburse his county and others for the costs of jailing people caught after entering the country illegally.

“I will tell you last year, $30 million is what the sheriffs of Arizona had to swallow because we only got reimbursed 5 cents on the dollar,” Wilmot said.

One unconfirmed report said Kelly’s visit to Arizona will bring him to Nogales Thursday.

By posting comments, you agree to our
AZPM encourages comments, but comments that contain profanity, unrelated information, threats, libel, defamatory statements, obscenities, pornography or that violate the law are not allowed. Comments that promote commercial products or services are not allowed. Comments in violation of this policy will be removed. Continued posting of comments that violate this policy will result in the commenter being banned from the site.

By submitting your comments, you hereby give AZPM the right to post your comments and potentially use them in any other form of media operated by this institution.
AZPM is a service of the University of Arizona and our broadcast stations are licensed to the Arizona Board of Regents who hold the trademarks for Arizona Public Media and AZPM. We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples.
The University of Arizona