Representative Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) is spearheading a bipartisan push to modernize the DeConcini Land Port of Entry in Nogales, arguing it is of national importance.
As his letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin notes, the DeConcini Land Port of Entry was last refurbished in 1994 and has suffered from flooding, hindering Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) ability to work efficiently.
"As one of the busiest ports of entry along the U.S.-Mexico border, the DeConcini LPOE is critical to our nation's economic vitality and border security," Rep. Ciscomani wrote. "The DeConcini LPOE serves as a vital link between Arizona and Mexico, facilitating millions of lawful crossings each year."
In fact, DeConcini saw 7 million personal vehicle passengers and approximately 3.5 million pedestrians processed in 2025 alone, making it one of the busiest ports of entry in the United States.
On top of that, the Nogales borderland region is a major hotspot for drug trafficking, and ensuring CBP has the modern infrastructure necessary to thwart smugglers is urgently needed.
"The battle against the flow of narcotics has shifted from those measured by the bundle and the ton to those that are measured in the thousands of pills that are strapped around a smuggler's waist," the Arizona congressman continued. "The DeConcini LPOE is at the forefront of this fight, and we must ensure that enforcement personnel have the best facilities, tools, and training to do their job to the best of their ability."
In June 2024, the late Representative Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) applauded the General Services Administration for beginning construction of a new commercial port of entry near Douglas, 4.5 miles from the historic Raul Hector Castro Port of Entry (POE), which Rep. Grijalva said would "help improve connections, boost trade, strengthen ties between our nations and communities, and ensure the City of Douglas can thrive."
