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The border crossing sits closed Dec. 15, 2023, at Lukeville, Ariz.

Arizona border crossing with Mexico to reopen a month after migrant influx forced closure

Jan 3, 2024 The moves reflect a drop in illegal crossings from December highs, authorities said.

More than 25 years of cross-border advocacy and solidarity on the Douglas-Agua Prieta border

Dec 27, 2023 AZPM sat down with a couple who migrated to Douglas/Agua Prieta in the late 90s. In the decades working with migrants on the border, they’ve seen changes. What hasn’t changed is the community’s ability to open doors and hearts to migrants passing through.

Few details released on National Guard mission to the border

Dec 21, 2023 There are still few details on how the National Guard would help with border security issues, per Governor Katie Hobbs recent executive order. But Congressman Raúl Grijalva says sending the National Guard to the border is not the answer.
Three U.S. residents were shot at and one was killed in the early morning hours of Dec. 16, 2023 about halfway between Altar and Santa Ana in Sonora, Mexico.

Three U.S. residents shot at on Sonoran highway

Dec 19, 2023 Three US residents traveling in Mexico on one of the alternate routes to Rocky Point were shot on Saturday, and one was killed. The shooting happened on Highway 2 in Sonora.
Border Patrol process hundreds of migrants on Dec. 5, 2023. Many are from African countries — Senegal, Guinea and Mauritania — and a smaller number are from India and Central and South America. Many say they came through a cut in the border wall.

It's not clear what National Guard will do on the border

Dec 19, 2023 Following Governor Katie Hobbs' executive order to deploy National Guard members to the border, Arizona officials are still hashing out what that will look like.
A view of newly-constructed border fencing in Sasabe. June 2021.

Dozens of pets left in border town wracked with cartel violence

Dec 16, 2023 When the majority of Sasabe, Sonora, fled due to cartel violence, people had no choice but to leave their pets behind. Volunteers work to get food to the animals and the few families left behind.
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs announced that Cochise County will be receiving $41 million dollars from the state to enhance border security during a press conference at Cochise College's Sierra Vista campus Wednesday. July 19, 2023.

Hobbs sends National Guard to the border

Dec 16, 2023 Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs signed an executive order Friday to send up to 243 service members to help with border enforcement measures.
Border Patrol process hundreds of migrants on Dec. 5, 2023. Many are from African countries — Senegal, Guinea and Mauritania — and a smaller number are from India and Central and South America. Many say they came through a cut in the border wall.

Ongoing surge of migrants renews concerns of overnight street releases

Dec 11, 2023 Pima County’s Casa Alitas assisted a record number of migrants in November — nearly 34,000. The surge is depleting resources faster than expected — sustaining fears of migrants being unsheltered in cities overnight.
Migrants wait to be processed by border patrol outside of Lukeville, Arizona, on Dec. 5, 2023.

Hobbs to launch office to coordinate border security, asks feds for $500 million reimbursement

Dec 8, 2023 Gov. Katie Hobbs urges the Biden administration to deploy National Guard to reopen Lukeville port of entry, establishes an office for coordinated border efforts and seeks reimbursement for border operation expenses.
The Lukeville port of entry lay empty on Dec. 5, 2023, a day after the federal government closed the direct route to Rocky Point in order to move personnel to help with a surge of migrants.

Rocky Point residents say it’s a ghost town after port closure

Dec 8, 2023 The closure of the Lukeville port of entry has turned Rocky Point into a ghost town, causing businesses to shutter, locals to lose their jobs, and uncertainty to loom over the community's economic future.
Border Patrol process hundreds of migrants on Dec. 5, 2023. Many are from African countries — Senegal, Guinea and Mauritania — and a smaller number are from India and Central and South America. Many say they came through a cut in the border wall.

Migrants wait days in desert as Tucson Sector numbers increase

Dec 6, 2023 As the Tucson Sector continues to be the busiest region on the U.S.-Mexico border, officials must prioritize processing families and children while hundreds of single men wait for days after climbing through cuts in the border wall.
Alvina Martinez and her 9-year-old daughter walk out of Casa Alitas, a shelter for immigrants run by Catholic Community Services, on Thursday, November 1, 2018. The pair are seeking asylum from Guatemala.

Record numbers and funding change could lead to migrant street releases in Pima County

Dec 4, 2023 As the number of migrants continues to surge at the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona, Pima County worries whether they’ll keep up, serving well over 1,000 people a day for weeks.
Border Patrol processing migrants who crossed the border outside of Lukeville, Arizona, in May 2023.

Officials to close Lukeville/Sonoyita border crossing due migrant surge

Dec 1, 2023 Lukeville port's temporary closure due to a migrant surge raises travel and economic concerns in Arizona, prompting officials to urge swift federal action.
Late afternoon under the tree canopy near the Boyce Thompson picnic area. Boyce Thompson Arboretum by Bruce McGrew, c. 1980. Watercolor, 22 in. x 30 in.

Celebrating a unique vision with "Bruce McGrew: Continuum".

Nov 22, 2023 Also on Arizona Spotlight: How Prop 308 made higher education attainable for undocumented students; and why Kidz At Play is not a rap group.

40 years of Gould’s turkey restoration success in the Sky Islands

Nov 20, 2023 From local extinction to Thanksgiving triumph, the journey of North America’s largest wild turkey species in Arizona’s southeastern mountains
Lockers at the Pima County Medical Examiner’s Office contain belongings recovered alongside migrants who died in the desert. Death investigators use the items to help determine the person’s identity, and return their remains to family.

New report finds Pima County Sheriff’s Department has history of not responding to calls from lost migrants

Nov 20, 2023 Advocacy group No More Deaths found that the sheriff’s department handled distress calls based on perceived immigration status. Sheriff Nanos disputes the findings, says whether calls are transferred to Border Patrol is based purely on proximity.

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