Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) has distinguished himself by becoming the first Democrat to endorse the Anti-Border Corruption Improvement Act, a border-related bill aimed at expanding U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) hiring. The legislation proposes removing the polygraph test requirement for applicants with prior law enforcement or military security clearances, addressing the recruitment challenges that CBP has faced.
As Gallego runs for the Senate seat left open by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), his support for this bill underscores his commitment to bipartisan solutions for border security. Experts believe that eliminating the polygraph requirement could enable CBP to hire an additional 5,000 Border Patrol agents, alleviating critical staffing shortages.
“When I meet with CBP and border community leaders, one of the first things they mention to me is the shortage of CBP officers,” Gallego noted. “Securing our border should be a bipartisan issue, which is why I’m proud to be the first to cross the aisle and support this commonsense legislation to expedite CBP hiring.”
The Anti-Border Corruption Improvement Act was introduced in January of the previous year and is currently under review by the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement in the House. Despite his efforts to promote bipartisanship, Gallego has faced backlash from Republicans, including his Senate opponent Kari Lake, who has criticized his legislative record and alignment with the current administration.
Gallego continues to push for increased federal resources to support border communities, having secured over $2 million in emergency funding and introduced several bills focused on improving border security and processing efficiency. His nuanced stance on Title 42 and other immigration policies highlights his dedication to addressing border issues comprehensively.
With the Arizona Senate race deemed “Lean Democratic” by the Cook Political Report, border security remains a critical issue for voters as the election approaches.
