Over the weekend, Senator Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) – who just days ago announced that she decided to drop her Democrat label and officially register as an Independent – was asked by CNN’s Jake Tapper if the Democratic Party fails to take border security “seriously.”
As a government, the U.S. has a “duty to solve” border concerns, Sinema told Tapper on Sunday.
Sinema also confirmed that she supports citizenship for immigrants who came to the United States as children, however, also believes that securing the border is just as important.
Sinema, who is a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, has been very outspoken about the border crisis in the past.
For example, in November, she released a statement questioning the Biden administration’s plan to end Title 42 in December, stating, “The Administration’s continued failures on the border puts Arizona communities, and our national security, at risk. The ongoing influx of migrants puts serious strain on CBP resources, and forces Border Patrol Agents out of the field and into processing and administrative roles. It is obvious that the current strategy being implemented at our Southwest Border is not working, and change is necessary.”
In addition, Sinema has been working with Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) on an immigration plan that would provide a 10-year path to permanent residency and legalization for 2 million immigrants who arrived as children. The Border Patrol and border security would receive at least $25 billion in additional funding in exchange for this.
Also included in the Tillis-Sinema immigration plan is an extension of the Trump-era Title 42 policy, which expires on Dec. 21.
During her CNN interview, Senator Kyrsten Sinema emphasized that the United States has a “duty to secure” its borders. Given her experience with the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, she is a leader in recognizing current border threats and urging action to secure the country. Times of crisis call for bipartisanship and an acknowledgment of many aspects of this issue, including more funding and other resources needed to secure the border now. Sinema is particularly vocal on this issue and serves as an example of bridging the gaps between both parties in order to secure our southern border.
