AZ governor acknowledges border crisis but promotes ‘more humane’ immigration program
Rachel Schilke
Video Embed
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) acknowledged that there is an ongoing border problem but says the state program offers a “more humane” process for immigration.
Hobbs said in an interview on Fox News Sunday that she is continuing a Republican-initiated program that will bus migrants away from border communities. Unlike fellow Govs. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) and Greg Abbott (R-TX), however, she is allowing immigrants to chose their destination.
ILLEGAL BORDER CROSSINGS DROP IN JANUARY TO LOWEST LEVEL IN NEARLY TWO YEARS
Both Republicans have bused and flown immigrants out of their states to Democratic-controlled cities, like Washington, D.C., New York City, Martha’s Vineyard, and Chicago.
“Yeah, we’ve continued the program, but I think with a more humane and more efficient spin on it,” Hobbs said. “This money was appropriated by the legislature to specifically bus these legal asylum seekers, and so our decision was to get them where they need to go – to their sponsor or where they have resources and support – instead of just putting them on a bus to D.C., which is expensive.”
Hobbs added that her state program will provide relief to border communities while “also a more humane response to these folks.”
Illegal border crossings dropped in January to the lowest level in nearly two years. Border Patrol agents apprehending 128,410 people last month, down 42% from 221,675 in December.
In total, 5.4 million immigrants have tried to get into the United States illegally between Feb. 1, 2021, and Jan. 30, 2023 — more than any other period in the Border Patrol’s 98 years or the Obama administration’s eight years in office.
She ultimately blamed the federal government for the ongoing border crisis.
“This is an issue that the can has been kicked down the road for decades by both parties in Washington,” Hobbs said. “Solving our immigration crisis could help with economy, help with inflation. We need real solutions.”
In her State of the State address, Hobbs announced a $40 million plan for in-state college tuition assistance for Dreamers, as they are not eligible for federal tuition assistance programs. The governor defended her plan on Sunday, stating that it is what Arizonans want.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
“Our plan to create this scholarship program for Dreamers is right in line with Arizona voters who overwhelmingly passed a provision in this last election to provide in-state tuition for Dreamers,” she said. “These are Arizona students who went to Arizona schools and high schools and should be afforded the same opportunities as Arizona students.”
“This is the only country that they know. They’re not the ones who made the choice to come here, and they deserve the opportunity in the country that they call home,” Hobbs continued.