U.S. Rep. Martha McSally (R-AZ) recently called on U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Acting Commissioner Kevin McAleenan to expedite the modernization of the Douglas Port of Entry (POE) in Arizona, which was last renovated more than 20 years ago.
McSally also called for the construction of a new commercial port of entry in CBP’s five-year plan. Currently, the port accounts for more than $4 billion in trade through two-way truck traffic every year. McSally made the request due to reports from both the General Services Administration and the Arizona Department of Transportation that the port’s inadequate size will prevent CBP from carrying out its mission over the next five years.
“Last year, more than 1.6 million cars and 3.8 million people crossed into the United States from Mexico at Douglas POE. Additionally, Department of Justice statistics show that approximately 90 percent of the illicit drugs smuggled into the United States come through the ports of entry,” McSally said. “Despite these economic opportunities and security challenges, the Douglas POE is severely outdated, overburdened, congested and woefully inadequate.”
Ann English, chairwoman of the Cochise County Board of Supervisors, applauded the request, stating that modernizing and expanding the port would benefit the nation as it helps move goods from Mexico, which is one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.
A similar sentiment was expressed by Douglas, Arizona Mayor Robert Uribe, who described the port as a gateway for billions of dollars of trade and millions of visitors, but was also outdated and overburdened.
“We need to make it easier for our visitors to cross and shop in our stores, eat in our restaurants and do business in Douglas and Arizona,” Uribe said. “After an initial assessment, we are now looking at both short and long term actions to make our border crossing second to none.”