Homeland Security Secretary, Jeh Johnson Visited the Arizona Mexico Border

By Francisco Romero Tucson, AZ

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson visited Tucson Wednesday afternoon after touring the Douglas – Agua Prieta border area. Congressman Ron Barber hosted Johnson; both of them met with state and local law enforcement officials. “We have to remain vigilante, in the face of evolving challenges to border security here,”

Johnson said during a press conference at the Border Patrol Headquarter offices in Tucson. “When it comes to removals we need to focus on the quality of our efforts, not the quantity,” Johnson answered in regards to the current Obama policy of undocumented immigrants deportations. “We need to focus our removal resources on threats to national security, threats to public safety, threats to border security,” Johnson added.

The Secretary of Homeland Security also met with ranchers along the Douglas – Agua Prieta border. Local immigration activists would have liked to have the same opportunity. “What worries me the most are the people who are dying in the desert trying to come back to their normal life as they have lived in the United States most of their lives and are being deported,” Maria Eugenia Carrasco, a local activist said. “I would like to give him a tour of our immigrant community as we are no threat to national security,” Maria Eugenia added. The United States Border Patrol deported 420,789 undocumented immigrants during last fiscal year, which ended in September. A 16% increase over the previous year. Jeh Johnson mentioned that this would not be his last visit to the border as he plans to honor his commitment to keep a safe and secure border.