After scrambling to resettle nearly 1,900 Afghans, groups await more
WASHINGTON - Refugee resettlement groups in Arizona found homes for almost 1,900 Afghan refugees from the fall of Kabul in August through February, the most the agencies said they have placed in the least amount of time. And they say they are ready to place more.
Arizona official defends ‘remain in Mexico’ policy that Biden wants to end
WASHINGTON - The director of Arizona's Department of Homeland Security told a panel of lawmakers Wednesday that the Migrant Protection Protocols, also known as the “remain in Mexico” policy for immigrants, is helping to keep Arizonans safe.
Arizona ports of entry get at least $315 million for upgrades, expansion
WASHINGTON - Arizona is set to receive at least $315 million for improvements to three ports of entry along the Mexican border, money that officials say is badly needed to ease cross-border trade while improving border security.
Gift of life: People of color urged to register for organ donation
PHOENIX – About 60% of the 106,000 patients awaiting an organ donation in the U.S. are people of color, with Black, Hispanic and Asian patients disproportionately represented. To overcome such disparities, advocates at the national and local level are doing more to encourage people of color to become donors.
Brnovich urges skeptical Supreme Court to let states step in if feds fail
WASHINGTON – Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich told the Supreme Court Wednesday that it would set a “dangerous precedent” if it let the Biden administration drop an immigration policy and refused to let the states step in to defend it.
Advocates hopeful as Supreme Court agrees to hear ‘remain in Mexico’ case
WASHINGTON - The on-again, off-again fight to end the Trump-era "remain in Mexico" policy is on again, after the Supreme Court said it will review lower court rulings that have forced the Biden administration to keep the program in place, with a ruling likely by this summer.
Tiny fraction of DACA applications sent to ICE; still gives advocates pause
WASHINGTON - Of more than 3 million DACA applications since 2012, about 900 were referred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement - still too many for advocates who said they were promised no information would be shared with enforcement agencies.
DHS tightens vaccination requirements for travelers at border crossings
WASHINGTON - The Department of Homeland Security began requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination over the weekend for essential as well as nonessential travel across the U.S.-Mexico border.
Mayors say immigration reform needed, but politics likely to prevent it
WASHINGTON - Mayors of Tucson and Mesa agreed Wednesday that immigration reform is needed to address the current situation at the border, but they are not confident it can get done in the current fractured political climate.
South Central Mercado a creative hub of local businesses
The South Central Mercado was established in October of 2019 by Cecilia Rivera, Sam Gomez and Joe Munoz. The pop-up market gives small businesses, artists and entrepreneurs a space to create business plans and sell their goods.
Door-to-door campaign helps Guadalupe turn the tide against COVID
GUADALUPE – With the help of Town Council members, tribal leaders, and health care organizations, tiny Guadalupe is driving down COVID-19 cases.
Audit shows Border Patrol hampered by outdated technology, flawed evaluation of new equipment
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has received more than $743 million since 2017 for upgrades in border technology, but it has only bought 28% of the equipment needed to modernize systems that thwart the flow of illegal goods.
