Border Security
As Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, which is responsible for funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), my number one priority is securing the southern border and protecting our communities in southern Arizona. T In FY24 alone, nearly 3 million migrants attempted to enter our country, a 50% surge compared to FY21. Additionally, between June 2023 and June 2024, fentanyl smuggled across the border killed more than 107,000 Americans, shattering families across the United States.
This is unsustainable and must be fixed. I will work to reinstate commonsense policies that prioritize security, like Remain in Mexico, dismantle cartels and other criminal organizations, empower our Customs and Border Protection agents and officers to do their job, and enforce our immigration laws strongly and consistently. Protecting our nation’s sovereignty and ensuring the safety of our communities must – and will – be my top priority. Watch me speak in support of my bill, the End the Border Catastrophe Act here. I visited a remote portion of the border near Sasabe, AZ with Senator James Lankford here.
In October 2024, I was honored to receive inaugural Border Guardian Award by the Border Security Alliance for my efforts and leadership on border security issues. The Border Security Alliance is comprised of leaders in Arizona who advocate for policies that secure our borders and protect our communities.
In my freshman year, I introduced five pieces of border-focused legislation. You can find a breakdown of those bills, and all the legislation I introduced in the 118th Congress, here. One of these pieces of legislation passed through the House of Representatives last Congress:
- The Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act (H.R. 5585) to impose a life sentence on migrants and human smugglers who engage in high-speed car chases with law enforcement officers.
In the 119th Congress, I have introduced the following border-focused legislation:
- The Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act (H.R. 35) would impose federal penalties on bad actors who engage law enforcement in high-speed car chases along the southern border.
- In the 118th Congress, this legislation passed the House of Representatives in bipartisan fashion by a vote of 271 - 154.
- This legislation is a priority of Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson.
- The Transnational Criminal Organization Illicit Spotter Prevention and Elimination Act (H.R. 263) would increase penalties on ‘spotters’ who aid and abet cartel operations and help them avoid law enforcement at the border. Specifically, this bill prohibits:
- Transmitting the location, movement or activities of law enforcement personnel.
- Destroying, altering, or hiding electronic devices used by law enforcement personnel.
- Carrying or using a firearm during a human smuggling crime.
- The Combating Cartels on Social Media Act (H.R. 488) would direct the DHS to implement a national strategy to crack down on drug cartels and other transnational criminal organizations that use social media to recruit teenagers to traffic drugs across the border and into the United States and establish a process for social media companies to report recruitment posts, allowing law enforcement to more accurately track and disrupt recruitment efforts.
For more information concerning work and views related to Border Security, please contact our office.
More on Border Security
WASHINGTON – As the House passed critical foreign aid, Congressman Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06) pushed his own effort to secure the southern border.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06) released the following statement after voting in favor of the motion to censure Adam Schiff (D-CA-30):
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06) released the following statement as Congress re-examines a vote to censure Adam Schiff next week:
"My concerns with the bill have been addressed and I will be voting YES this coming week to censure Adam Schiff.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, this week secured nearly $5 million for projects in Arizona’s Sixth Congressional District.
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06) on Thursday released a statement following his vote to table a motion to censure Adam Schiff:
"Adam Schiff has clearly behaved dangerously and irresponsibly, which is why earlier this year I supported his removal from the House Intelligence Committee.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06) introduced the Copper is Critical Act, legislation to designate copper as a critical mineral.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, released a statement after voting to support the Fiscal Responsibility Act, legislation to prevent the United States from defaulting on its debt.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06) introduced new legislation to increase punishments on individuals who aid cartel operations at the southern border.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, today celebrated the House passage of his first legislation. This bipartisan legislation covers the costs for veterans seeking job training in high-tech industries.