OP-ED: Keeping our communities safe requires strong leadership
By: Rep. Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06)
Living and representing a border district, I have seen firsthand what chaos at the southern border looks like — and I’ve seen what leadership can accomplish.
Under President Trump’s leadership, our southern border has undergone a dramatic turnaround. After years of failed open borders policies under the Biden administration that overwhelmed our communities, stretched law enforcement thin and allowed fentanyl to pour into our country, we are restoring order and enforcing the law once again.
The results speak for themselves.
Illegal crossings have plummeted to levels not seen in decades. Criminal illegal immigrants are being removed. Catch-and-release has effectively ended. For months now, zero unvetted immigrants who crossed illegally have been released into the interior.
It turns out, what we needed was a president willing to enforce current law.
And securing the border isn’t only about Washington policies — it’s about working hand-in-hand with local law enforcement. Partnerships like this are critical.
One of the first bills I passed in Congress came directly from conversations with local authorities in Cochise County. After meeting with Sheriff Mark Dannels and other local law enforcement leaders, it became clear that individuals fleeing from federal law enforcement agents needed to face serious consequences. That legislation — the Raul H. Gonzalez Officer Safety Act — makes fleeing from federal authorities a crime and strengthens protections for the brave men and women who put their lives on the line every day.
That bill was shaped by the realities on the ground in Arizona.
The same is true in Pinal County. I’ve worked closely with Sheriff Ross Teeple and his department, who face the realities of border-related crime every single day. Interstate 10 runs straight through the heart of Pinal County — serving as a major gateway into our district, our state and our nation. It is a known corridor for drug trafficking, human smuggling and dangerous high-speed pursuits that put innocent drivers at risk.
Sheriff Teeple’s deputies routinely encounter the downstream consequences of border chaos. They work closely with federal partners like U.S. Border Patrol to apprehend and detain individuals involved in criminal activity. Their coordination and professionalism are essential to protecting our communities. I am proud of the work they do and committed to ensuring they have the support and resources they need.
I am proud to consistently work alongside our sheriffs, police chiefs and federal agents because they understand the challenges better than anyone. Public safety starts locally.
I have also brought Republican and Democrat lawmakers alike to our border — right here in Arizona — so they can see the realities firsthand. Border security should not be a partisan issue. When you stand on the line, speak with ranchers, ride along with Border Patrol and hear directly from our local officers, the need for action becomes undeniable.
Meanwhile, some in Washington continue to play politics with public safety. Shutting down funding for the Department of Homeland Security — the agency that oversees Border Patrol, FEMA, TSA, the Coast Guard and critical cybersecurity operations — is reckless. Our law enforcement officers should never be used as leverage in political fights.
Two recent polls show the American people overwhelmingly support enforcing immigration law, deporting criminal illegal immigrants, and restoring order at the border. Families in Arizona and across the country want safe communities, secure streets and a government that upholds the rule of law.
Here at home in Southern Arizona, I hear it every day. Families want to know their children are safe. Ranchers want their property protected. Law enforcement officers want the tools and support to do their jobs. And they deserve nothing less.
As we reflect on the progress made, we should recognize how far we’ve come — from a border in crisis to one regaining control. Securing the border is not about politics; it’s about sovereignty, safety and standing up for the rule of law.
And I will continue working with President Trump, with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and with our local law enforcement leaders to keep Arizona — and America — safe.