Sen. Martha McSally said $152.4 million to modernize and expand the U.S. Port of Entry at San Luis, Ariz., has been secured and is included in the appropriations bill.

“We’ve advocated for and secured the funding,” McSally said. “It’s the only port of entry mentioned in the appropriations bill. We’ve been advocating tirelessly for it throughout the appropriations process.”

The funding is part of the appropriations bill that details government spending for fiscal year 2020. Congress passed the bill and and it’s headed to the president’s desk for approval.

“This is very good news for San Luis, Yuma County and the state,” said San Luis, Ariz., Mayor Gerardo Sanchez. “We’re very happy. We’ve been working for several years to try to get the attention of the state department, and now we’re the only port to be listed on the bill.”

Sanchez that although the dollar amount is down from previous years, it still represents progress. 

“In past years, we’ve been taken out of the budget completely,” he said. “But this is a good start. It’s a beginning. Five years ago we were not even on the list of ports considered for funding.” 

In previous years, presidential budgets have included funding for the San Luis Port of Entry that has ranged between $234 million to $248.3 million, but the port never saw any of the money. The mayor of San Luis has been vocal in previous years about his frustration with the lack of movement of the funds to San Luis.

McSally said the decrease in funds by a third of what was promised for the previous fiscal year comes from the intention to fund the improvement of San Luis over multiple years and in multiple stages.

“This will be a multi-year project,” she said. “The funding will come for this fiscal year and as the project progresses, we plan to continue funding it.”

“It’s going to be a big endeavor,” Sanchez said. “Freedom Park as it is will not exist. The next three to four years will be about the construction of the port.”

San Luis Vice Mayor Maria Cecilia Cruz said that she and the mayor are confident that they’ll see the complete funding this time and are very excited.

“We’re all so excited because we worked hard on this as a team,” she said. “from the governor, to the congressional delegation, to the mayors. We’re glad to hear the great news. We’re just waiting for the president’s signature, and we’re confident that he’ll sign because he understands the importance of the border.”

McSally also said San Luis should be confident that they’ll see the money. She said that she fought hard for the guarantee that the San Luis port of entry get the money it needs to improve.

“I’ve been their senator for 11 months now, and I can say that I’ve secured the funding,” McSally said about San Luis. “This isn’t just a hope. We fought for and secured the funding.”

McSally said the improvement of the port of entry will be a boost to both the economy and the security of the area around the port of entry.

“The port is so important to cross-border commerce. So much goes through there, and the improvement project will bring jobs,” she said. “It’s also important to the security of the border. A lot of hard drugs come to that port, and it needs to be secured and modernized.”

Sanchez said that he has spoken with officials in Mexico who plan to develop their section of the border as well, so the improvements on the border will benefit both sides. 

“I expect that the development will be pretty aggressive on both sides, and that development and the finished improvement will also help the local economy on both sides,” he said. “The two-hour delay and the two lanes going through the port are creating a lot of chaos right now, and we have to accommodate for the 9,000 to 10,000 people that cross daily to work in our fields.” 

Cruz agreed and said that an improved San Luis port of entry should help secure border crossing and facilitate the flow of workers who cross everyday.

“This should make crossing the border safer and eliminate the long lines at the border,” she said. “As you know, there are people who get up early every day to wait in line and cross so they can get to work. This should make their lives easier, and it should make working here and living in Mexico easier. This is going to benefit both sides, Mexico and the US.”

Sanchez also noted that improved security is a big part of the improvements to the San Luis port and said that he’s confident McSally and other officials will help him advocate for better recruitment. 

“It’s also about security and the CBP (Customs and Border Protection) staff and adding more officers,” he said. “We need more CBP officers to man the port. It defeats the purpose of the port if there’s no one there.”  

The San Luis Port Director John Schwamm likewise said that investment will speed up the flow of traffic through the port, which will facilitate travel and trade. 

“This major investment in the San Luis Port of Entry infrastructure and expansion will immediately help increase traffic and pedestrian flow, increase safety and dramatically improve the overall primary mission of lawful travel and trade here in San Luis, Arizona, and neighboring cities,” he said. “(Customs and Border Protection) looks forward to moving into a new era of port modernization. Congratulations to all.”

McSally said that San Luis and Yuma should be excited about the news because the project will go through and will benefit the area. She called the imminent project a “Christmas present” for San Luis and Yuma.

Sanchez said that he’s grateful.

“I’m just very grateful to the governor, to both senators and their staff, to the congressional delegation stepping up to the plate,” he said. “I’m grateful to the mayors of Yuma, Somerton and Wellton. It really makes a difference when the whole state backs you up.” 

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