Southern Arizona law enforcement agencies weigh in on Biden’s executive order

TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) — Some southern Arizona law enforcement agencies working close to the border said President Joe Biden’s executive order is too little, too late.

Border Patrol reported over 600,000 “getaways” just last year. These “getaways” refer to instances where migrants entered the United States without being apprehended by border agents.

Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels and Art Del Cueto, the Vice President of the National Border Patrol Council Union, said with Biden’s executive order, even more migrants will begin using illegal methods to enter the country.

They believe this will only increase the number of “getaways.”

“It’s frustrating,” Dannels said. “It’s like putting a bandaid on a triage. It sounds good. But is it a little bit too late?”

Dannels and other law enforcement agencies have been calling on those in D.C. to discuss the problems people face at the border.

“What President Biden did today will probably have minimal impact on what we deal with down here,” Dannels said.

Dannels tells 13 News the executive order will only make it more difficult for his office.

“What we deal with is getaways, where the cartels have direct, 100% control of people,” Dannels said. “They do whatever it takes to get them across the border, into a vehicle, and smuggled out of Cochise County.”

Dannels said with fewer migrants able to claim asylum, many will try to cross without detection, which he said could lead to even more run-ins with smugglers and high-speed chases.

“Now we put a bandaid on a triage,” he said. “You think that is going to stop them? No, it’s not. They still have the will in a county like mine. They will continue to exploit it and put my citizens in danger.”

The National Sheriffs’ Association released the following statement in response to the order.

“Since President Biden became President, the National Sheriffs’ Association has been begging for a face-to-face meeting to demonstrate the damage that his open border policy has been inflicting on the citizens of this country to no avail. In addition to millions of illegal immigrants being allowed into the country, over two million “gotaways” have surreptitiously entered the country as well. Our government has no idea who they are, where they came from, nor what their plans are. Cartels and criminal gangs are establishing themselves throughout the country. Americans have been dying due to fentanyl overdoses by thousands every year.”

While limiting the number of migrants seeking asylum may lower the number of apprehensions, Del Cueto said the number of “getaways” will only increase.

“When it’s been so easy to come across to the U.S. and ask for asylum, knowing you will get released,” Del Cueto said. “It’s horrific to think of what criminal background could these other individuals have that they go these extra steps not to get detected and not get apprehended.”

Del Cueto emphasized that until the message being sent around the world changes, the crisis at the border will not end. This change in message is crucial to addressing the root cause of the issue.

“It doesn’t address the problem,” Del Cueto said. “The way you address the problem, ‘you say look, we are putting our foot down. If people have a real asylum claim, we will listen to their asylum claim, but we will do it the right way. People are going to get detained.”

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