In a significant bipartisan move, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) has become the first Democrat to back the Anti-Border Corruption Improvement Act, a bill designed to address staffing shortages within U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The proposed legislation seeks to remove the polygraph requirement for CBP applicants who have prior law enforcement experience or military security clearances.
As Gallego campaigns for the Arizona Senate seat vacated by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), his support for this bill underscores his commitment to practical solutions for border security issues. Experts believe that eliminating the polygraph requirement could lead to the hiring of an additional 5,000 Border Patrol agents, addressing critical 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 stated. “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.”
Introduced last January, the Anti-Border Corruption Improvement Act is currently under consideration by the House Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement. Despite his bipartisan efforts, Gallego has faced criticism from Republicans, particularly his Senate race opponent Kari Lake, who has targeted his voting record and alignment with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
Gallego continues to advocate for more federal support for border towns, having secured over $2 million in emergency funding and introduced several bills aimed at enhancing border security and migrant processing. His stance on Title 42 and other border policies reflects a nuanced approach to handling immigration issues.
The Arizona Senate race, rated “Lean Democratic” by the Cook Political Report, highlights the growing political focus on border security as a key issue.
