1. News
  2. AZPM News - Local, independent journalism from the NPR 89.1 newsroom
  3. Border and Immigration

Border and Immigration

People wait for assistance at a shelter that's part of the Casa Alitas program on March 1, 2024.

Pima County expects upcoming migrant funding to last through August

Apr 3, 2024 Pima County expects to receive at least 12 million dollars in federal funding from the recent Homeland Security appropriations bill to continue services to asylum seekers through August, after coming dangerously close to having to turn people away.
A Customs and Border Protection drone is ready for launch in this undated photo. While U.S. military and border officials use drones for border surveillance, they say cartels may be sending many as 1,000 drones a month across the border to probe for weaknesses and sometimes deliver illicit goods.

Senators told of ‘alarming’ level of drone incursions at southern border

Mar 31, 2024 Cartels are sending as many as 1,000 unmanned drones across the border every month.
Since the year 2000, the Pima County Medical Examiner has received nearly 4,000 sets of human remains from people who died crossing the U.S.-Mexico border into Arizona. Here, a cross marking the place where a man in his 30s died in 2009 lays a few hundred yards from one of the water stations the nonprofit Humane Borders sets out for migrants crossing the desert.

Officials warn of dangers of crossing the border in anticipation of summer heat

Mar 28, 2024 Officials from both sides of the border warn migrants of the dangers of crossing the border in potentially deadly heat.
Children peer through the border fence in Nogales, Sonora during a march led by migrants on April 30, 2021 who wanted to call attention to immigration policies in the United States that have prevented them from entering the country while they seek political asylum.

Number of families and children in Border Patrol's Tucson Sector grows

Mar 27, 2024 New federal data shows that the number of migrants apprehended by Border Patrol last month grew, including the number of families and children.
People wait for assistance at a shelter that's part of the Casa Alitas program on March 1, 2024.

Pima County to continue migrant services

Mar 26, 2024 County will avoid street releases at the end of the week, anticipating federal funding from the $650 million, in the border security funding bill, for shelter and services to asylum seekers.
Border officials in Nogales seized more than a dozen assault rifles, a record for the year, and nearly 10,000 rounds of AK-style ammunition during the second week in June. The weapons and ammunition were being smuggled into Mexico.

Judge allows Mexico’s case against Arizona gun dealers to proceed

Mar 25, 2024 A federal judge in Tucson ruled Monday that Mexico’s case against five Arizona gun dealers is allowed to proceed. The gun dealers sought to have the entire case thrown out.
George Alan Kelly during opening statements, on March 22, 2024, at trial where he's being charged with second degree murder and aggravated assault.

Attorneys make opening statements in case of rancher accused of killing migrant

Mar 22, 2024 Friday was opening arguments in the trial of George Alan Kelly, the 75-year-old rancher being charged in the shooting death of a Mexican citizen, who prosecutors say was on Kelly’s property while crossing the U.S.-Mexico border undocumented.
Immigrants take their official oath of citizenship in front of Tucson Magistrate Michael Ambri on Friday, March 22, 2024.

Tucson officially honors 23 new citizens at a TUSD middle school

Mar 22, 2024 The naturalization of an all female group of immigrants was in celebration of Women’s History Month.
Cuban-born Ninón Sevilla starred in the Mexican film "Víctimas del Pecado" in 1951.

"Víctimas del Pecado" makes a powerful return to the silver screen.

Mar 21, 2024 Also on Arizona Spotlight: How Stories Change Lives - Social Venture Partners "Fast Pitch" offers opportunities for local non-profits; and Mel Blumenthal shares a story about being sneaky on a German train.
People wait for assistance at a shelter that's part of the Casa Alitas program on March 1, 2024.

Federal dollars for asylum seekers in Tucson on verge of running out as Congress releases spending deal

Mar 21, 2024 Congressional leaders unveiled a spending package with $650 million for short-term asylum services like Casa Alitas in Tucson. However, approval and allocation may come too late to avoid street releases.
Favianna Rodriguez, with the Center for Cultural Power, was master of ceremonies at the Reclaiming the Border Narrative archival launch on March 16, 2024.

Archive seeks to reclaim border narrative

Mar 18, 2024 The Reclaiming the Border Narrative digital archive is a collaboration meant to tell the story of the border through the eyes of people who live there.
People wait for assistance at a shelter that's part of the Casa Alitas program on March 1, 2024.

County discontinues contracts to migrant services

Mar 6, 2024 Pima County is discontinuing contracts for services to the more than 2,500 asylum seekers a day, who have been released by Border Patrol. Federal dollars are running out as Congress has yet to agree on more funding for border communities.
The dome atop the Arizona Capitol Museum at the State Capitol in Phoenix. January 2021.

Hobbs vetoes immigration bill

Mar 4, 2024 The bill is similar to a Texas law put on hold by the U.S. Supreme Court.

More than $2 billion paid to bond people out of immigration detention; highest amount in Eloy

Mar 4, 2024 People seeking the release of migrants detained for crossing the border have paid more than 2 billion dollars in bonds since 2017. A recent report shows that collectively the highest amount paid was in Eloy, Arizona.
Children play at a shelter that's part of the Casa Alitas program on March 1, 2024.

Diocese of Tucson seeks donations to continue migrant services in wake of funding cliff

Mar 1, 2024 The Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson and Casa Alitas are asking community members to consider donating to help asylum seekers in Tucson as federal dollars run out and street releases are set to begin on April 1.
National Guard troops receive inspection training from a Customs and Border Patrol official at the Mariposa Port of Entry in Nogales, Arizona on August 1, 2018.

The Buzz: What can states do at the US-Mexico border?

Mar 1, 2024 Federal law rules the land when it comes to border enforcement, but local governments can help.

Selected Archive Filters

Border,
Immigration
Back to Top
AZPM is a service of the University of Arizona and our broadcast stations are licensed to the Arizona Board of Regents who hold the trademarks for Arizona Public Media and AZPM. We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples.
The University of Arizona