In response to a surge in asylum seekers crossing from Mexico into the United States around the remote Lukeville, Arizona, area, officials have announced the temporary closure of the port of entry. The closure, set to begin on Monday, aims to provide support to border patrol agents who are struggling to handle the overwhelming number of arrivals. However, the planned closure has faced criticism from Arizona's US senators and governor.

The US Customs and Border Protection made the announcement on Friday, citing the need to address changing migration routes that have strained the resources of border patrol agents stationed at Lukeville. The closure has been deemed "unacceptable" by Arizona's senators and governor.

To address the situation, Customs and Border Protection stated that they are deploying all available resources to efficiently and securely process migrants. They emphasized the prioritization of their border security mission in response to the evolving circumstances.

In recent months, the desert crossing around Lukeville has become a significant migration route, with smugglers bringing people from countries as distant as Senegal, India, and China. Most individuals enter the US west of Lukeville, bypassing gaps in the wall, and then head east towards the official border crossing to surrender to the first agents they encounter, hoping for the opportunity to seek asylum.

Customs and Border Protection attributed the increase in daily arrivals around Lukeville to "smugglers peddling disinformation to prey on vulnerable individuals."

Although remote, the Lukeville border crossing is regularly used by travelers from Arizona to reach Puerto Peñasco, a resort area in the Mexican state of Sonora on the Sea of Cortez. Additionally, Americans utilize the crossing to visit the border community of Sonoyta for various reasons, such as dining, shopping, and accessing affordable dental and medical services. It was also highlighted that some Mexican children cross the border daily on buses to attend school.

Expressing their dissatisfaction with the planned closure, Arizona senators Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema, along with Governor Katie Hobbs, criticized the lack of viable solutions from the Biden administration. They regarded the closure as an undesirable outcome, which not only destabilizes the border but also poses risks to community safety and hampers trade and tourism.

The lawmakers called for swift action from the Federal Government to maintain port of entry operations, gain control over the border, ensure the safety of Arizona communities, and guarantee humane treatment of migrants. They also criticized politicians who engage in partisan rhetoric without addressing the escalating border situation, calling for collaboration to find effective solutions.

According to the transportation department's latest figures, an average of 3,140 people in vehicles and 184 pedestrians entered the US daily through the Lukeville port in October.

While the Lukeville port of entry is closed, travelers will still have alternative options for crossing into or out of the United States. Nogales, Arizona, located three hours to the east, and San Luis, Arizona, approximately two hours to the west, will remain accessible.

Earlier this week, Customs and Border Protection began implementing traffic restrictions at the Lukeville port. The agency also closed one of the two bridges for vehicles in Eagle Pass, Texas, a town which, at one point last year, saw the highest volume of illegal crossings.

The temporary closure of the Lukeville Border Crossing underscores the challenges faced by border authorities as they grapple with the increasing number of asylum seekers and the evolving dynamics of migration routes. It highlights the need for effective strategies to manage and address the situation at the US-Mexico border.