Arizona Border Counties Coalition
ABCC 2019 SUMMARY
An Affiliation of Cochise County • Pima County • Santa Cruz County • Yuma County
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 Sheriff
- 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 Department 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:
- Ann English, District 2, Chair
- Peggy Judd, District 3, Vice Chair
- Tom Crosby, District 1
County Administrator: Richard Karwaczka
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
Pima County is divided into five districts:
- Sharon Bronson, District 3, Chair
- Rex Scott, District 1
- Matt Heinz, District 2
- Stephen W. “Steve” Christy, District 4
- Adelita Grijalva, District 4
County Administrator: Jan Lesher
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, Chair
- Manuel Ruiz, District 1, Vice Chair
- Rudy Molera, District 2
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, Chair
- Martin Porchas Stuart, District 1
- Jonathan Lines, District 2
- Darren Simmons, District 3
- Lynn Pancrazi, District 5
County Administrator: Ian McGaughey
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
Arizona Border Counties Coalition
Kelle Maslyn
Assistant Director for Strategic Affairs
Office of Economic Development
Phone: (520) 724-5411