ICYMI: Ciscomani Led First-Term Members of Congress on a Trip to the Arizona-Mexico Border

March 13, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani led a group of nine first-term Members on a Congressional delegation trip to the Arizona-Mexico border to learn more about the situation on the ground, meet with officials on the frontlines, tour the border wall and other facilities, and highlight the diverse nature of the situation at the border.

“I was proud to lead a Congressional delegation of freshman Members of Congress to southern Arizona to learn more about the border’s three buckets - trade, immigration, and security,” said Ciscomani. “We met with members from the Department of Defense, Customs and Border Protection, Border Patrol agents, local law enforcement officers, immigration officials, and the business community to get a full scope of the situation on the southwestern border. As I continue to push legislation to address all aspects of the border, I welcome partners to help me champion commonsense efforts that keep our border secure, facilitate smooth commerce, and ensure our communities remain safe. This trip was a great step in that direction.”

Ciscomani was joined by Reps. Mike Kennedy (UT-03), Julie Fedorchak (ND-At Large), Jeff Hurd (CO-03), Tim Moore (NC-14), Derek Schmidt (KS-02), Dave Taylor (OH-02), Jeff Crank (CO-05), John McGuire (VA-05), and Riley Moore (WV-02).

Multiple news outlets covered the trip. Their reports can be seen here, here, here, here and here.

Details from the trip include:

To kick off the trip, Ciscomani and colleagues met with Speaker Mike Johnson, Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green, and House Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee Chairman Mark Amodei. During this roundtable they were able to exchange perspectives about the border, the 119th Congress’ strategy, and detail the goals for this trip. 

The group met with local law enforcement, crime reduction activists, and ranching stakeholders from Pinal, Pima, and Cochise County to discuss the need to further strengthen public safety and support southern Arizona’s vibrant agriculture industry. 

The delegation toured the Mariposa Port of Entry in Nogales, Arizona with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers to see firsthand the legal trade and commerce that flows between the U.S. and Mexico daily.

The delegation visited a warehouse in Nogales to highlight the importance of agricultural trade between Mexico and Arizona, discuss supply chain resiliency, and the impact of tariffs on cross-border trade.

Next, the group joined U.S. Border Patrol agents at the Nogales Station and the border wall to learn about the changes they have seen under the new administration, the challenges they continue to face, and how Congress can continue to support their critical mission. 

The delegation went on a nighttime tour of the border alongside several Members of the National Border Patrol Council, including Vice President Art Del Cueto, to learn more about the grave threat Mexican cartels continue to pose on U.S. national security and the need to crackdown on spotters and informants who aid and abet cartel operations.

Earlier this year, Ciscomani introduced the Transnational Criminal Organization Illicit Spotter Prevention and Elimination Act (H.R. 263) to increase penalties on anyone who helps criminals avoid law enforcement at the border. Specifically, the bill imposes a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison to anyone who transmits the location or activity of law enforcement personnel, destroys or alters electronic devices, or is carrying a firearm during a human smuggling crime. 

To conclude the trip, Ciscomani led the first group of Members of Congress to meet with the U.S. Northern Command and the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista, where the group heard about their work assisting CBP and DHS in their mission to enforce border security and immigration laws as part of the Joint Task Force for Southern Border Operations. 

After the conclusion of the trip, Members of the delegation hosted a press conference in the U.S. Capitol to share their key takeaways from the trip, discuss policy implications, and answer questions from the media. Watch the press conference here.

Here’s what the other Members are saying:

“Thank you to Congressman Ciscomani for hosting me to his district in Arizona and for his leadership on border security. Learning more about the many layers of our nation’s border crisis and the far-reaching consequences of President Biden’s refusal to lead on this issue was eye-opening,” said Rep. Julie Fedorchak. “For the last four years, our law enforcement officers were overwhelmed with processing illegal crossings instead of securing the border. Now, with President Trump enforcing existing law, they’re back to being able to do their jobs. I’m committed to working with the Trump administration and my colleagues in Congress to make sure our border agents have the tools and resources they need to keep our country safe.”

“It was incredible to see what has already been accomplished at the border just in the first few months of President Trumps leadership,” said Rep. Mike Kennedy. “With this new administration in office, it has already reduced the flow of drugs, human trafficking, and crime into our communities. We must continue to prioritize border security to ensure the safety of all Americans. A heartfelt thank you to all the border patrol agents for their tireless work and dedication.”

"Thank you, Congressman Ciscomani, for allowing my colleagues and me to witness firsthand the complexities of the U.S.-Mexico border," said Rep. Jeff Hurd. "During our visit, we saw firsthand how Border Patrol agents play a vital role not only in stopping illegal activities, such as fentanyl trafficking but also in ensuring that legitimate goods move freely across the border, keeping supply chains intact."

“On this trip with Rep. Ciscomani, we saw firsthand the difference strong leadership makes at the border,” said Rep. Tim Moore. “Law enforcement and border officials told us the same thing: under President Trump, they finally have the support they need to do their jobs and keep our country safe. This is a complete turnaround from the chaos and carnage I witnessed when I visited under President Biden. Results don’t lie —President Trump is delivering a significant drop in border crossings, detaining and deporting criminals, and shutting down the cartels."

“President Trump is exactly right: we didn’t need new legislation to secure the border – all we needed was a new President,” said Rep. Derek Schmidt. “We found the migrant crisis abated, morale high among our men and women who work hard every day to protect America, and the cartels and organized criminal organizations disrupted by the rapid changes. Now, we must codify the President’s commonsense policies to ensure America’s borders remain secure and we never again return to the disastrous policies of the previous administration. It was a privilege to meet with the Americans who have been on the frontlines of the border crisis for years and to help foster cooperation between law enforcement, members of our Armed Forces, local stakeholders, and Congress.”

“Southern Ohio has seen more fentanyl overdoses and deaths than anywhere else in the Buckeye state. Much of it entered our Nation through our southern border,” said Rep. Dave Taylor. “With border crossings down 90%, President Trump and Republicans are already off to a great start securing our border and keeping drugs off our streets. Thank you to Congressman Ciscomani for providing me this opportunity to shake the hands of our hardworking border patrol agents and local law enforcement as they tirelessly defend our Nation. I look forward to continuing to support legislation that secures our borders and puts American families first.”

“House Republicans are sending a clear message – the U.S. – Mexico border is CLOSED,” said Rep. Jeff Crank. “We will continue to restore law and order at our southern border by enforcing President Trump’s America First Agenda. Thank you to Rep. Ciscomani for leading this trip.”

“I appreciate Representative Juan Ciscomani for taking leadership on this issue that's important to Virginia's Fifth Congressional District and an issue that is important to all Americans,” said Rep. John McGuire. “This trip to the border was definitely an eye-opening experience. I learned that the border is not just flooded with illegal aliens, but our law enforcement officers are dealing with fentanyl, trade issues, economic development, defense, human trafficking, and immigration. As a Veteran and as a Navy SEAL, I know how dangerous the cartels can be. We've got to make sure we are serious about supporting President Trump’s mission to keep Americans safe and we must fully support our military, law enforcement, and local communities.”

“It was very informative to join my colleagues on the ground at the Southern Border, and I can’t thank Rep. Ciscomani enough for organizing the trip,” said Rep. Riley Moore. “Speaking directly with those who suffered under four years of bad border policy was eye-opening, and hearing their feedback on President Trump's actions so far was equally critical. I will draw heavily on this experience as Congress weighs further resources to bolster the Administration’s detention, deportation, and drug enforcement efforts.”

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Issues: Border Security