The port of entry in Lukeville, Arizona will be temporarily closed due to the overwhelming number of migrants crossing from Mexico into the United States. Customs and Border Protection announced the closure, which will begin on Monday, as they struggle to handle the influx of migrants that has overwhelmed Border Patrol agents stationed in the area. The closure has been met with criticism from senators and the governor, who called it "unacceptable."

Customs and Border Protection stated that they are allocating all available resources to process migrants quickly and safely, while also prioritizing their border security mission. The desert crossing around Lukeville has become a major migration route in recent months, with smugglers bringing people from countries such as Senegal, India, and China. Many of these migrants are walking into the U.S. west of Lukeville through gaps in the wall and heading east towards the official border crossing to surrender to Border Patrol agents in hopes of seeking asylum.

In the past week alone, the Border Patrol made 17,500 arrests for illegal crossings in the Tucson sector, averaging around 2,500 arrests per day. This is a significant increase from the daily average of 1,700 arrests in September, when Tucson was already the busiest corridor for illegal crossings along the U.S.-Mexico border. Customs and Border Protection attributed the large number of arrivals to smugglers spreading false information to exploit vulnerable individuals.

The duration of the Lukeville border crossing closure remains uncertain. Although it is located in a remote area, it is frequently used by Americans traveling to Puerto Pe?±asco, a popular resort area in the Mexican state of Sonora. Additionally, many Americans visit the border community of Sonoyta for various purposes such as dining, shopping, and seeking affordable dental and medical care. Mexican children also rely on the northbound bus across the border to attend school.

Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema, along with Governor Katie Hobbs, have strongly criticized the planned closure and demanded better solutions from President Joe Biden's administration. They labeled the closure as an "unacceptable outcome" that destabilizes the border, threatens community safety, disrupts trade and tourism, and jeopardizes the humane treatment of migrants. The politicians also called out partisan individuals who simply parrot talking points instead of actively working towards finding solutions and ensuring community safety.

Despite the closure, travelers will still have alternative options to cross into or out of the United States through Nogales, Arizona, which is a three-hour drive to the east, or San Luis, Arizona, which is a two-hour drive to the west. Customs and Border Protection had already begun restricting traffic at the Lukeville port earlier this week. Additionally, the agency closed one of two bridges to vehicles in Eagle Pass, Texas, a town that experienced a surge in illegal crossings last year.