Border Officials Prioritize Stopping Illegal Crossings, Halting Legal Ones

Border officials in Lukeville, Arizona, have closed the port of entry to cope with a surge of thousands of migrants camping out along the border wall, leading to a split-screen crisis. While the closure aims to focus resources on unlawful crossings, it has created a humanitarian emergency for migrants and an economic disaster for border communities whose livelihoods depend on the now-shuttered crossing. Gas stations, restaurants, and travel-insurance agencies have reported a 90% drop in business, and Mexican American families are struggling to commute, attend school, and care for loved ones on the other side. Arizona leaders from both parties have criticized the Biden administration's handling of the border crisis, with the governor threatening to send in National Guard troops if the crossing is not reopened.