By Corinne Murdock

According to the federal government, the unprecedented border crisis plaguing Arizona will likely only get worse this year. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials informed Reuters that they’re preparing for up to 9,000 border arrests a day, topping last year’s daily average which was nearly 3,000 less apprehensions.

It is unclear how Border Patrol will handle the additional onslaught of illegal immigrants, as detention centers are already far overwhelmed. Last December, Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) reported record numbers of illegal immigrant encounters.

Governor Doug Ducey is attempting to sway federal lawmakers to increase border security personnel and resources to combat the current and now forecasted additional onslaught of illegal immigrants. As AZ Free News reported, a majority of Arizona law enforcement supports Ducey’s proposal to greatly increase border security. The governor’s office coordinated with other state leaders in drafting the federal legislation in the hopes that Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Krysten Sinema (D-AZ) will show their support.

Spoke with Border Patrol and local law enforcement to develop a clear and effective plan to surge public safety resources. I’m grateful for their around-the-clock efforts to protect Arizonans and our border communities. @CBPArizona @YumaSheriff @Arizona_DPS @TimRoemerAZ @JWLines pic.twitter.com/s5Mumxagyn

— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) December 7, 2021

Kelly may not be much help; he’s been the least outspoken on the border crisis of the two senators. 

Even if legislation were to get past the House and Senate, President Joe Biden may object to the legislation. The last time that Biden posted about the border was in September; however, he wasn’t addressing the crisis. Biden chose to speak out about the treatment of the illegal Haitian immigrants, threatening investigation over debunked claims that border agents were whipping the aliens.

I'm heartbroken by the treatment of Haitian migrants at our border — and I acknowledge it is only the latest of many historic indignities that Haitians have faced. We will continue to offer assistance and investigate wrongdoing. I remain committed, as ever, to Haiti's future. pic.twitter.com/Cu1TlqF4EA

— President Biden (@POTUS) September 24, 2021

That isn’t to say the president hasn’t addressed issues of the border privately. Again, however, his concerns don’t reflect the crisis-level inundation of illegal immigrants, but instead their reception by the states. CNN claimed in a report this week that it obtained internal documents in which the Biden Administration threatened legal action against the state of Florida for threatening to revoke licenses to the shelters holding unaccompanied migrant children. Florida’s general counsel, Ryan Newman, claimed that the Biden Administration’s handling of the children was tantamount to a “human trafficking scheme.” 

Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.