by Daniel Stefanski | Oct 16, 2023 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
Arizona sheriffs are pushing state officials to increase funding for border security.
Last week, the Arizona Sheriff’s Association sent separate letters to Governor Katie Hobbs and legislative leaders. Those letters requested Arizona to “double its contribution to local law enforcement to allow (sheriffs) to deploy more resources to interdict human and drug smugglers.”
The sheriffs opened their letter by pointing to the $12 million included in the 2023-24 state budget “to help law enforcement handle crime related to illegal border crossers.” Though these sheriffs were “grateful for the assistance,” they asserted that “the situation at the border has only worsened” since the funds were negotiated by the Arizona Legislature and Governor Hobbs.
David Rhodes, the President of the Association and the Yavapai County Sheriff told AZ Free News, “It is our local communities that are grappling day in and day out with the impacts of an insecure border. We are not just pulling over DUI suspects or patrolling neighborhoods. Sheriffs deputies across the state have become quasi-border patrol agents, seizing fentanyl pills, and arresting human traffickers. And the problem isn’t getting better, it is only getting worse.”
In their letter, the sheriffs wrote, “As Governor and the leaders of our Legislature, we understand you must balance spending priorities. And the federal government holds the ultimate responsibility for securing our border and stanching the flow of drugs and illegal crossers. However, can there be any doubt about the federal government’s abject failure in this area? Your eyes haven’t deceived you. Indeed, daily the media attention highlights the disastrous impacts of an open border. The scourge of fentanyl spreads like a cancer in communities large and small. Much of that deadly drug flows through Arizona. Arizona sheriff’s deputies seize millions of fentanyl pills every year. And the smuggling through our state’s highways shows no signs of abating.”
Just last month, a Cochise County Deputy Sheriff was seriously injured as he attempted to stop a suspected smuggler, who was trying to evade apprehension in her vehicle. When talking to local media about the rash of similar incidents plaguing his county and department, Sheriff Mark Dannels said, “Just this week alone, I’ve had a patrol car damaged, I’ve had two officers, deputies that were trying to be run over by smuggler drivers. This is every day down here.”
The sheriffs promised that, if the legislature were to appropriate more funds for border security in the next budget, they would use it for “more deputies patrolling the roads, more canine handlers and dogs to sniff out drugs, and better technology to match the wealth and equipment used by the cartels.”
As they ended their letter, the sheriffs added a plea for state leaders to heed their calls, saying, “No amount of state money will allow us to seal the 200-mile-long border to all illegal activity. But by making a small investment, Arizona will at least make a dent while improving the safety of our local communities. As this year demonstrated, our state leaders believe border security through effective law enforcement is worth an investment. We hope you see the wisdom in furthering that financial commitment.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Oct 15, 2023 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
Thousands of migrants from potentially troublesome countries are being apprehended at America’s southern border, while many others could be slipping past law enforcement.
On Tuesday, Fox News journalist Bill Melugin reported that “Internal CBP data provided & confirmed by CBP sources reveals thousands of ‘special interest aliens’ from mostly Middle Eastern countries have been apprehended by Border Patrol while crossing into U.S. illegally over last 2 years.”
Melugin clarified that “a special interest alien is a term used by the U.S. government to refer to people coming from countries that have conditions that favor or harbor terrorism, or pose a potential national security to the U.S.”
From 10/1/2021 to 10/4/2023, the following apprehensions by nation of origin were reported:
- Syria: 538
- Yemen: 139
- Iran: 659
- Iraq: 123
- Afghanistan: 6,386
- Lebanon: 164
- Egypt: 3,153
- Pakistan: 1,613
- Mauritania: 15,594
- Uzbekistan: 13,624
- Turkey: 30,830
The decorated reporter added some concerning context for his report, writing, “Border Patrol sources tell me they have extreme concerns about who is coming into the country because they have little to no way of vetting people from these special interest countries. I’m told unless they have committed a crime previously in the US, or they are on some sort of federal watchlist, there’s no way to know who they are because most of their home countries don’t share data/records with the US so there is nothing to match a name to when BP agents run fingerprints.”
The number of apprehensions from ‘special interest countries’ follows continuing reports of an increase in the number of suspected terrorists who have been encountered this fiscal year, along with the ‘gotaways’ who have escaped detection from law enforcement. Over 150 suspected terrorists have already been nabbed over the past eleven months, which was a stark rise from the previous year (when 98 suspected terrorists were arrested at the southern border). According to CBP data, only 26 total suspected terrorists were apprehended at the southern border from Fiscal Years 17-21.
If the issues of “special interest nations” and “suspected terrorists” apprehensions weren’t bad enough for the country, the number of ‘gotaways’ present a far-greater problem for the United States. More than 1.5 million of these individuals are estimated to have escaped capture by border officials, meaning that they likely are anywhere within the American homeland. Adding to fears from law enforcement, the identities and motives of these aliens are almost entirely unknown.
Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen addressed this danger in his statement about the horrific terrorist attack in Israel over the weekend. Petersen said, “Our own country must remain vigilant, as our wide open border, ignored by Joe Biden and Democrats, remains one of the greatest threats to our national security. This same situation can happen at anytime on our own soil, and we call on the federal government to take immediate action.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Corinne Murdock | Oct 15, 2023 | News
By Corinne Murdock |
The city of Tucson will have spent around $5 million to house illegal immigrants over the course of nine months.
The city expanded its budget for the illegal immigrants during its regular council meeting last week.
The $5 million covered an April 1 through Dec. 31 budget this year, or nine months. The bulk of the funding, $4.3 million, covers overflow hotel nights on an as-needed basis. $550,000 covers the city’s Sun Tran bus service to shuttle the illegal immigrants from shelter sites and the Tucson International Airport. The remaining $150,000 was for staff on an as-needed basis.
In agenda documents, the city detailed how the border crisis has resulted in a significant increase in illegal immigrants that overwhelmed the Casa Alitas Welcome Center and necessitated overflow into non-congregate settings such as hotels and local transportation such as the city’s Sun Tran bus service.
The illegal immigrant flood also resulted in the Pima County Emergency Food and Shelter Program Local Board to request additional relief funding from their national board.
In April, the city entered into an agreement with Pima County to reimburse the city for the emergency shelter, transportation, and staff support services provided to illegal immigrants amid the ongoing border crisis. The city characterized the illegal immigrants they served as “legally present.”
The funding ultimately originates from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) serving as the primary pass-through entity and the Emergency Food Shelter (EFSP) National Board serving as the secondary pass-through entity.
The additional funding was approved collectively as part of last week’s consent agenda.
Congress first began appropriating funds for EFSP specifically for migrants in 2019 through the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Humanitarian Assistance and Security at the Southern Border, with its first round of funds totaling $30 million. In 2021, Congress issued $110 million through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. In 2022, Congress issued $150 million through the DHS Appropriations Act of 2022.
This year, Congress issued $425 million through the DHS Appropriations Act of 2023.
Pima County Grants Management & Innovation has received over $26 million in funding specifically for illegal immigrant humanitarian relief. The various World Hunger Ecumenial Arizona Task Forces have received, collectively, over $19.4 million: the Maricopa County branch received over $11 million, the Cochise County branch received over $75,000, the Disculpos de Reino branch received over $66,000, and the Yuma County branch received nearly $8.2 million.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
by Daniel Stefanski | Oct 15, 2023 | Economy, News
By Daniel Stefanski |
The current state of the American economy continues to trouble small business owners.
This week, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) released its latest Small Business Optimism Index, showing a drop of a half point during the month of September. The index now stands at 90.8, and it has not risen above the average mark of 98 for 21 consecutive months.
NFIB Arizona State Director Chad Heinrich commented on the latest issuance of the index, saying, “It’s clear that small business owners remain deeply concerned about the economy. The pressure of inflation and the labor shortage are continuing to take a toll on our job creators, with little relief in sight.”
Bill Dunkelberg, NFIB’s Chief Economist, also weighed in on the recent numbers from his organization, writing, “Owners remain pessimistic about future business conditions, which has contributed to the low optimism they have regarding the economy. Sales growth among small businesses have slowed and the bottom line is being squeezed, leaving owners few options beyond raising selling prices for financial relief.”
The announcement from the Arizona arm of the influential business group stated that “twenty-three percent of owners reported that inflation was their single most important problem in operating their business, unchanged from last month and tied with labor quality as the top concern.”
NFIB highlighted some of the areas of emphasis from their index, including:
- Small business owners expecting better business conditions over the next six months deteriorated six points from August to a net negative 43% seasonally adjusted, however, 18 percentage points better than last June’s reading of net negative 61% and definitely at recession levels.
- Forty-three percent (seasonally adjusted) of owners reported job openings that were hard to fill, up three points from August and remaining historically high as owners can’t hire enough workers due to few qualified applicants.
- Seasonally adjusted, a net 23% plan to raise compensation in the next three months, down three points from August.
- The net percent of owners raising average selling prices increased two points to a net 29% seasonally adjusted, still a very inflationary level.
- The net percent of owners who expect real sales to be higher increased one point from August to a net negative 13% (seasonally adjusted), still a very dismal posture.
Just last week, the Biden Administration boasted of a “record-breaking economy,” noting the increase of jobs, an unemployment rate below 4%, a low unemployment rate for women, and low unemployment for African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Americans with disabilities.
Others see the economy in an entirely different light. Alfredo Ortiz, the president and CEO of Job Creators Network, recently said, “This accelerating inflation, which is nearly twice the Federal Reserve’s target rate, is another Bidenomics blow to ordinary Americans and small businesses dealing with rapidly rising prices that are lowering their real wages and living standards for two and a half years.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Corinne Murdock | Oct 14, 2023 | Education, News
By Corinne Murdock |
The Arizona State University (ASU) professor who founded Drag Story Hour Arizona assaulted a cameraman, then issued a public statement claiming he was the victim.
ASU professor David Boyles is seen on video grabbing at the cameraman with Turning Point USA (TPUSA), a right-leaning activist nonprofit. Boyles lunged for the camera following a series of questions concerning Boyles’ beliefs and teachings posed by the cameraman’s colleague.
“Our TPUSA Frontlines reporter tried to ask self-professed ‘sex education obsessed’ queer ASU Professor David Boyles, a few simple questions. Refusing to answer, our cameras caught the exact moment Mr. Boyles assaulted, pushed, and clawed at our cameraman,” stated the organization.
Following TPUSA’s public statement, it appears that Boyles went to the media with his story. In its initial report, The Arizona Republic claimed in its headline that Boyles was targeted in a campus garage for his sexuality. The original headline read: “‘Targeted’: ASU Investigating After Queer Instructor Confronted in Tempe Campus Garage.” It also didn’t mention TPUSA or their video.
By the next morning, however, The Arizona Republic updated its headline to read, “‘You Can’t Run’: ASU Investigating After Queer Instructor Confronted By Turning Point USA ‘Crew.’”
AZ Free News asked The Arizona Republic whether they knew of the TPUSA video prior to publishing the original article. Their reporter didn’t respond by press time.
Boyles accused the TPUSA men of terrorism for filming him while asking him questions.
“Stop coddling these… terrorists,” wrote Boyles. “These people should be shunned from society.”
Boyles also stated on Instagram that he was jumped from behind by the TPUSA reporter asking questions. TPUSA countered in its video that Boyles fell and injured himself after the reporter removed him from their cameraman.
Also contrary to TPUSA’s video, Boyles claimed that the two individuals who questioned and filmed him had “shouted” at him.
“One filmed on his phone while the other shouted horrible and incendiary things at me, repeating standard right-wing nonsense about Drag Story Hour and also accusing me personally of pedophilia and hating America,” wrote Boyles. “[I feel] angry, violated, embarrassed and despairing at the fact that we have come to normalize this kind of harassment and violence.”
Boyles contested with AZ Free News reporting on his past remarks. The Arizona Republic, incorrectly referring to our outlet as “Arizona Free News,” recharacterized his post about planting pornographic LGBTQ+ books in libraries as “suggesting new titles to [Boyles’] local library.”
In his blog, Boyles said the community needed to “plant more queer books on the shelves of your local library,” with examples given of “Gender Queer” and “All Boys Aren’t Blue,” both of which contain LGBTQ+ pornographic material.
MEET THE ASU PROFESSOR BEHIND AZ’S DRAG QUEEN STORY HOUR
Elsewhere on his blog, Boyles encouraged people to advocate for LGBTQ+-inclusive, pleasure-centered sex education for minors.
“[A]busive, patriarchal fundamentalists […] fear the liberatory power of queer sexuality,” wrote Boyles.
Boyles accused AZ Free News of being a “right-wing propaganda website.” He has since hid his Substack behind a paywall, and made his Instagram page private.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
by Daniel Stefanski | Oct 14, 2023 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
A long-time United States Senator was recently honored by the President and Arizona’s governor.
Late last month, President Joe Biden traveled to Arizona to announce the pending construction of the John S. McCain Education and Community Center.
In his remarks, the president said, “I have come to honor the McCain Institute and Library because they are a home of a proud Republican who put his country first. Our commitment should be no less because democracy should unite all Americans, regardless of political affiliation.”
Biden added, “Our institutions and our democracy are not just of government. The institutions of democracy depend on the Constitution and our character and the habits of our hearts and minds. Institutions like the McCain Institute and the new McCain Library that will be built at Arizona State University with the funding from the American Rescue Plan, which I signed into law when I came to office. A library that’s going to house John’s archives, host dialogue and debate, inspire future leaders around the world, to serve tens of thousands underserved Arizonans as a reminder of our obligation to one another.”
Governor Hobbs was in attendance for the announcement and issued the following statement after the conclusion of the event: “With today’s announcement of the McCain Library, the stories of Senator McCain’s bold defense of Americans’ rights both at home and abroad will become much more than just stories. Everything ranging from advancing human rights, to developing capable leaders, to safeguarding democracy, will run through this center, just as it has run through Arizona. I am proud to make this investment in our state and our community, and I am so looking forward to what we will accomplish together.”
The Governor’s Office shared that “the State of Arizona was instrumental in securing funding for the Library, leading the application through the federal government’s Capital Projects Fund.” The Office also revealed that the new building “included a visitors’ center, conference center, an Arizona home for the Washington, DC-based McCain Institute, and a McCain Library and Archives.”
Arizona State University President Michael Crow said, “John McCain is an important symbol of American democracy, and he holds a special place of respect and appreciation in Arizona and with Arizona State University. We will work with others around the country and in the community to take this unique portion of the ASU Tempe campus and create a place that honors his extraordinary life and legacy, serves the principles he devoted his life and career to, and carries that legacy forward for future generations to learn from.”
According to reports, the library is expected to encompass over 80,000 square feet on a 22-acre property on the sprawling ASU Tempe campus.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
