Arizona Senator Mark Kelly visited the U.S. Port of Entry at San Luis to go over modernization plans. / Photos By Sisko J. Stargazer
By Sisko J. Stargazer | Yuma Sun
Standing at the corner of Urtuzuastegui Street and Main Street just outside the U.S. Port of Entry in San Luis, Ariz., Sen. Mark Kelly gestured to the border and said, “This has been like this since 1985. It was good in 1985. It’s not good today.”
Having just met with leaders from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to tour the port of entry and discuss improvements, Kelly’s visit to the border was a result of the recently-passed infrastructure bill that will bring an additional $147 million to the San Luis border crossing modernization project.
With a total of $300 million for the project, Kelly shared in a media advisory Tuesday afternoon that he’s excited to “see the shovel go in the ground here.”
Kelly noted the project is much needed to deal with the changes in pedestrian and vehicle traffic over the past 36 years. He stated that the changes are good not only for southern Arizona, but the entire state as well since increased traffic means increased economic activity.
The Tuesday visit specifically dedicated time to looking at the plans for what the port of entry will look like and what technology will be needed. As an example, Kelly explained that although the General Services Administration (GSA) helps with plenty of projects, CBP has technology it is currently using that is potentially not funded through those GSA programs.
