ICYMI: Ciscomani Speaks on Necessity of Modernizing Nogales Port of Entry, Importance for Trade and Border Security in Arizona

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Juan Ciscomani recently spoke with 535 News in Washington on his continued efforts to modernize the Dennis DeConcini Land Port of Entry (LPOE) in Nogales, Arizona, and the impact modernizations would have on trade between the United States and Mexico and security at the border. Representative Ciscomani has been a committed advocate of modernizing the DeConcini LPOE to strengthen the security of the Arizona-Mexico border and improve the overall flow of goods across the border.

"Strong trade and border security are paramount for southern Arizona. As Representative of a border district, I am dedicated to ensuring the border is secure and the flow of trade across the border remains uninterrupted," said Rep. Ciscomani. "The flow of agriculture products alone is essential for the flourishing of local communities, specifically our ranchers and farmers in rural areas. I remain committed to advocating for modernizations at the DeConcini Port of Entry to make sure Arizona continues to be a leader in international trade and that our border stays secure."

In a letter to the Department of Homeland Security and General Services Administration, Rep. Ciscomani was joined by his Arizona colleagues Reps. Greg Stanton and Abe Hamadeh in urging Secretary Mullin and Administrator Forst to take immediate action in modernizing the Port to strengthen the local and national economy, and border security.

"We write to underscore the urgent need to advance the modernization of the Dennis DeConcini Land Port of Entry (LPOE) in Nogales, Arizona. As one of the busiest ports of entry along the U.S.-Mexico border, the DeConcini LPOE is critical to our nation’s economic vitality and border security," the lawmakers write. "We respectfully request your leadership in accelerating all remaining pre-construction activities and ensuring the project is fully prioritized within the upcoming General Services Administration (GSA) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Five-Year Capital Investment Plan. The DeConcini LPOE serves as a vital link between Arizona and Mexico, facilitating millions of lawful crossings each year. In 2025 alone, the port processed more than 7 million personal vehicle passengers and approximately 3.5 million pedestrians. Despite this volume, the facility’s core infrastructure has not kept pace with current operational demands. Originally constructed in 1931 and last significantly updated in 1994, U.S. CBP has confirmed that the current facility no longer meets mission requirements."

The DeConcini LPOE is in critical need of infrastructure updates to improve the facility’s configuration and to fix the issue of the nearby International Outfall Interceptor and stormwater tunnels beneath the facility creating dangerous flooding and overflows of sewer drainage. Current conditions at the facility expose Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel to harmful substances and conditions, impacting their ability to carry out their respective duties. Additionally, current facility setup does not allow for the effective deployment of modern inspection and pre-clearance systems. This also impacts the facility’s use of non-intrusive inspection (NII) technologies which are critical to the mission of CBP personnel.

Long-overdue modernizations of the DeConcini LPOE are essential for ensuring trade at the Arizona-Mexico border remains strong and our border security personnel have the tools they need to keep the border secure. Issues at the DeConcini LPOE affect more than just the facility itself. These issues impact the overall strength of Arizona’s economy, hurting local businesses and daily life. The flow of everyday goods that are necessary for the flourishing of Arizona, from agriculture products to medical supplies, is heavily affected by the Port’s need for improvements.

Rep. Ciscomani remains committed to fighting for modernizations at the DeConcini LPOE as these improvements are more than necessary for our local and national economy and security.

Watch Rep. Ciscomani’s full interview with 535 News HERE.

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