WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva sent a letter to Arizona Governor Doug Ducey expressing his strong concern with Gov. Ducey’s decision to comply with the Trump administration’s request to send U.S. National Guard troops to the southern border. The letter read in part:

“Governor Ducey, granting the deployment of the U.S. National Guard to the U.S. — Mexico border is a mistake and an ineffective and wasteful use of U.S. military resources. We should instead focus on modernizing the infrastructure and technology at our ports of entries to ensure security and economic cooperation without further militarizing border communities. The state of Arizona must not be used as a political pawn that will leave visitors questioning the safety of our state. Arizona has much to offer, I am deeply concerned that an occupation of the State by the U.S. military may do irreversible damage.”

Click here to view the full text of the letter.