NW Valley Times

In a letter addressed to President Biden, Representative Kevin Payne (R-Ariz.) and his fellow Arizona House Republicans voiced their disapproval of the current border control policies. They also criticized the Biden Administration's decision to shut down the Lukeville port of entry.

According to Payne, "Looking at those crossing the border in droves, they are largely military-aged men, not families in search of a better life as Democrats continually claim." He further stated that "Your open-border approach to immigration is a national threat that will have disastrous impacts on the entire country."

Payne, along with 31 other House Republicans including Representatives Quang Nguyen (R-Ariz.), Alexander Kolodin (R-Ariz.), Joseph Chaplik (R-Ariz.), David Cook (R-Ariz.), Matt Gress (R-Ariz.), co-authored the letter to President Biden. The lawmakers expressed concerns about 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.

The lawmakers wrote in their letter: "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 added that "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'."

Lukeville, one of the busiest ports, was closed at the beginning of December in response to an increase in illegal migrant crossings. The duration of this closure has not been officially announced yet, which has led Arizona lawmakers to express dissatisfaction with this decision by Biden's administration. According to an article from the Associated Press, this closure is negatively impacting businesses and individuals as legal cross-border activities such as shopping, dining, and school commutes for some Mexican children have been disrupted.

The lawmakers further wrote in their letter: "Border states in particular are significantly harmed by your administration’s failed policies every day. Our law enforcement agencies at the border are overextended. Healthcare providers in border communities are overworked to such an extent that they are struggling to provide essential services to the residents of their community in need of care. Your decision to close the Lukeville Port of Entry is just the latest in a long stream of irresponsible policies from your administration that fail to keep Arizona citizens, and all Americans, safe from criminal activity at the border."

Payne was re-elected to represent District 27 in the 2022 election. After serving eight years in the U.S. Navy until his honorable discharge, Payne pursued a career as an electrical engineer and business owner among other roles. Currently, he holds the position of chairman of the Military Affairs and Public Safety Committee and serves on several other committees including the Government and Elections Committee, according to Ballotpedia.