Arizona Border Counties Coalition

The Arizona Border Counties Coalition (ABCC) was created in 2017 and it consists of one representative from each participating County selected by the participating County’s Board of Supervisors. The role of this coalition is to help move local, state, and federal legislation and regulation forward that help advocate and/or accelerate economic development opportunities in southern Arizona with a specific focus on policies and issues that affect the quality of life and economy along the border. 

The ABCC’s mission is to advance economic development opportunities along the Arizona-Mexico border as well as identifying disproportionate fiscal cost transfers to the Border Counties.

MONTHLY MEETINGS 

January 10: ABCC Monthly Meeting held in Pima County, Tucson, AZ 

Meeting Guests: 

Mark D. Napier, Pima County Sherriff 

• Law enforcement struggling to adapt cost with recovering bodies, bones, etc. 
• Trends on drugs – methamphetamines, etc. 
• Need to talk more about traffic going south – guns, money, etc.
• Pima County will not be a 287(g) 
• Need to improve economy and facilitate trade
• CBP/Border Patrol relationship with Pima Sheriffs is good – staying in “our lanes”
•  Stonegarden Grant needs to be written better – is not fully reimbursing us 

Juan Ciscomani, Senior Advisor for Regional & International Affairs, Office of Governor Ducey

• AMC celebrating 60th Anniversary this year – all invited to attend this year’s summit in Phoenix. 

February 14: ABCC Monthly Meeting held in Pima County, Tucson, AZ 

Meeting discussion topics included:

• Caravan 200-300 migrants p/day 
• Tomato Suspension Agreement 
• DeConcini POE needs to be reconfigured 
• Mariposa POE cold storage 

March 14:** ABCC Monthly Meeting held in Pima County, Tucson, AZ 

Meeting discussion topics included: 

• Staffing at Arizona Ports of Entry 
• Roy Villareal is the new Border Patrol Chief for the Tucson Sector 

April 11: ABCC Monthly Meeting held in Pima County, Tucson, AZ 

Meeting discussion topics included: 

• Brief group on previous meeting with AZ DHS 

**Meeting was held prior to the regular monthly ABCC meeting with ABCC Representatives and County Administrators with AZ Dept. of Homeland Security to review the Stonegarden Grant Modifications points on letter sent on 2/14/19. 

May 9: ABCC Monthly Meeting held in Pima County, Tucson, AZ 

Guest: 

• Wendy Smith-Reeve, Deputy Director/Director, Division of Emergency Management, AZ Dept. of Emergency and Military Affairs (DEMA) 

June 13: ABCC Monthly Meeting held in Pima County, Tucson, AZ 

Guest: 

• Erik Lee, Executive Director, North American Research Partnership (NARP) 

Meeting Discussion Topic:

• Overview and update of the USMCA 

August 9: ABCC Monthly Meeting held in Santa Cruz County, Nogales, AZ 

Agenda Guest: 

• Fr. Sean Carroll, Executive Director, Kino Border Initiative/Iniciativa Kino para la Frontera o 669 asylum seekers waiting in Nogales, Sonora currently 

Meeting Discussion Topics:

• 144 Cubans waiting now 
• 1/3 are children 
• 2 months wait at POE 
• Remain in Mexico policy a concern – assaulted, extorted, etc. 
• KBI bought old factor 19,000 sq. ft. 

October 10: ABCC Monthly Meeting held in Pima County, Tucson, AZ 

Meeting discussion topics included:

• Next month meeting Yuma County 
• Change ABCC monthly meetings to Friday for 2020, easier for everyone 

November 15: ABCC Monthly Meeting in Yuma County, San Luis, AZ 

Meeting discussion topics included: Stats for the Yuma County San Luis crossings from the Greater Yuma Port Authority (GYPA): 

• July 2019 
  • Commercial: 2,564 
  • Private vehicles: 221,231 
  • Pedestrians: 163,209 

• August 2019 
  • Commercial: 2,575 
  • Private vehicles: 234,824 
  • Pedestrians: 164,893 

• September 2019 
  • Commercial: 2,536 
  • Private vehicles: 224,540 
  • Pedestrians: 190,186

• Private vehicles volumes for 2019 
  • January 262,181 
  • February 236,710 
  • March 253,230 
  • April 226,457 
  • May 234,679 
  • June 218,228 
  • July 221,231 
  • August 234,824 

• Top Imports: 

1. Peppers, asparagus, squash, etc. ($116.7 million) 
2. Cell phones, related equipment ($44.3 million) 
3. Onions, shallots, garlic, leeks frozen or chilled ($35 million) 
4. Insulated wire, cable ($31.8 million) 
5. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, etc. ($30 million) 
6. Amplifiers, speakers, microphones ($29.7 million) 
7. Lettuce and chicory, fresh or chilled ($25.6 million) 
8. Value added to a returned import ($19.4 million) 
9. Misc. engines and motors, parts ($17.9 million) 
10. Vehicle audio systems ($16.3 million) 

• Top Exports: 

1. Fresh apples, pears ($44.4 million) 
2. TVs and computer monitors ($28.8 million) 
3. Cell phones, related equipment ($27 million) 
4. Electric generating sets, rotary converters ($26.8 million) 
5. Commercial vehicles ($19.9 million)
6. Paper cartons, office box files, etc. ($11 million) 
7. Civilian aircraft, parts ($10.8 million) 
8. Motor vehicle parts ($7.14 million) 
9. Plastic boxes, containers ($6.7 million) 
10. Tractors ($6.6. million) 

LETTERS SENT 

February 14: 

ABCC sent letter to Governor Ducey and Secretary Nielsen Re: Federal Operation Stonegarden Grant Modifications, which included the following points: 

• Mileage Reimbursement 
• Indirect Cost Reimbursement 
• Equipment Use 
• Local Law Enforcement Priority 
• Expanded Function and Mission 

*Received response letter on 3/12/19 from the AZ Department of Homeland Security 

June 25: 

ABCC Letter to the Arizona Congressional Delegation Re: Support of USMCA 

*Received response letters on 7/24/19 from Sen. Sinema and on 8/8/19 from Rep. O’Halleran 

September 4: 

ABCC sends letter to GSA Osmahn Kadri, NEPA Project Manager Re: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Plans to Construct Truck Inspection Facilities at the Arizona Ports of Entry 

October 18: 

ABCC sends letter to Chairman Ned Norris, Jr. of the Tohono O’odham Nation Re: Invitation to attend or join the ABCC. 

October 24: 

ABCC sends letter to Gilbert Orrantia, Director of the AZ Deparment of Homeland Security Re: New Indirect Cost Recovery Policy 

ON THE BORDER 

August 9: ABCC in Santa Cruz County. 

Toured the Mariposa Port of Entry in Nogales, AZ. 

The ABCC Monthly Meeting held at the Bowman Senior Residences in Downtown Nogales, AZ. 

November 15: ABCC in Yuma County. 

Toured the San Luis Port I 

Toured the San Luis Port II

ABCC Monthly Meeting held in Yuma County Library in the San Luis, AZ. 

ABOUT THE AZ BORDER COUNTIES 

COCHISE COUNTY 

https://www.cochise.az.gov/

Cochise County is divided into three districts: 

• Tom Borer, District 1, Chairman 
• Ann English, District 2, Vice Chair 
• Peggy Judd, District 3 

County Administrator: Edward T. Gilligan 

County office HQ: Bisbee, AZ 

Founded: February, 1, 1881 

Population 131,346 (2010 Census) 

Area: 6,219 sq. miles 

Congressional District: District 2– Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick 

Miles with border: 80+ miles 

PIMA COUNTY 

https://webcms.pima.gov/

Pima County is divided into five districts: 

• Richard Elías, District 5, Chairman 
• Ally Miller, District 1 
• Ramón Valadez, District 2 
• Sharon Bronson, District 3 
• Stephen W. “Steve” Christy, District 4 

County Administrator: Chuck Huckelberry 

County Office HQ: Tucson, AZ 

Founded: November 9, 1864 

Population: 980,263 (2010 Census) 

Area: 9,189 sq. miles 

Congressional Districts: District 1 - Rep. Tom O'Halleran, District 2 – Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, and District 3 –Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva 

Miles with border: 130+ miles 

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY 

http://www.co.santa-cruz.az.us/ 

County Supervisors (3 Districts): 

• Bruce Bracker, District 3, Chairman 
• Rudy Molera, District 2 
• Manuel Ruiz, District 1, Vice-Chairman 

County Manager: Jennifer St. John 

County Office HQ: Nogales, AZ 

Founded: March 15, 1899 

Population: 47,420 (2010 Census) 

Area: 1,239 sq. miles 

Congressional District: District 3 – Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva 

Miles with border: 50+ miles 

YUMA COUNTY 

http://www.yumacountyaz.gov/ 

County Supervisors (5 Districts): 

• Marco A “Tony” Reyes, District 4 
• Martin Porchas Stuart, District 1 
• Russell McCloud, District 2 
• Darren Simmons, District 3 
• Lynn Pancrazi, District 5 

County Administrator: Susan K. Thorpe 

County Office HQ: Yuma, AZ 

Founded: November 9, 1864 

Population: 195,751 (2010 Census) 

Area: 5,519 sq. miles 

Congressional District: District 3 – Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva 

Miles with border: 100+ miles