On our last trip to Mexico I wrote “Run for the Border.” You can read it HERE. There were two odd things that occurred on that long weekend that made me question our favorite vacation spot four hours south of home. First was getting pulled over by cops at the Mexican border town and being shaken down for $160.
But something else was odd. I noticed at least 1,000 military-aged men from all over the world, lined up on the Mexico side, waiting to walk into the United States. There were no women or children.
Then on the news yesterday in Arizona, we learned the border crossing at Lukeville is closed because the Border Patrol has such an influx of these military-aged men from Asia, Egypt and Africa to process — that they can no longer accommodate legal Americans or Mexicans crossing the border — either way.
Here’s a snippet from local Arizona news:
Lukeville border closed: How to get to Rocky Point and how much longer it will take
“It sucks.”
Esme Hernandez, a local business owner who enjoys traveling to the Mexican beach town of Puerto Peñasco, also known as Rocky Point, didn’t mince words in reaction to the closure of the Lukeville-Sonoyta port of entry.
That border crossing provides the most direct route between Phoenix and Puerto Peñasco.
“I just can’t imagine the effect it’s going to have on Rocky Point and the economy. They’re already in the slow season,” she said in a TikTok video and Instagram post about the border crossing’s temporary closure, which U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced Friday, Dec. 1.
Why is the Lukeville border crossing closed?
U.S. Customs and Border Protection closed the Lukeville port of entry on Monday, Dec. 4, citing an increase in migrants at the border and a need to assist U.S. Border Patrol with taking migrants into custody.
CBP did not say when the border crossing might reopen.
https://www.azcentral.com/story/travel/arizona/2023/12/05/travel-to-rocky-point-lukeville-closed/71803351007/
With Lukeville closed, you have to drive to other border crossings that are not closed and are several hundreds miles away and are said to be more dangerous areas to travel. Rocky Point is 62 miles south of Lukeville. I hope this is temporary and for the sake of people who need to cross the border — and the economy of the beach resort — it reopens soon. Personally, I can skip the beach vacation, although it will hurt the Puerto Penasco economy.
We had a tenant in Phoenix who had open heart surgery and went on disability. He decided to move out of our rental unit and move into his mom’s house in Puerto Penasco where he could live for free. But he has continued his medical appointments in the US. He can no longer travel here.
Then, we met a restaurant owner in Puerto Penasco who said they bought most things to run their business like meat, liquor etc. in the US. They can’t get here, either.
The town of Rocky Point, also known as Puerto Penasco, will have no tourists. It’s a shrimp fishing village and a tourist town. The people are going to suffer economically.
The closest town to Lukeville on the US side is called Why. It was “Y” based on the road going from Tuscan to Phoenix and Mexico with a Y turn. Arizona decided all towns had to have three letters so now it’s called Why.
There’s a border station. It’s on the other side of the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument a few miles from the border in Why. The monument is gorgeous and home to two species of indigenous cacti found nowhere else. The migrants are camped out there because there are facilities. Border Control in Why has all its cages full of migrant men. (Have you ever heard about this?)
The migrants camping out in the National Monument are burning the cacti to stay warm.
We stopped at a gas station in Why on our last trip home (Population 30?) There was a brand new gas station and a family running it. It was a husband and wife with a baby. They were excited to tell us of their plans for a coffee shop and restaurant and welcomed us to come back soon.
This is so wrong on so many levels.
I’m not sure if anyone out of the Phoenix area has heard about this.
Have you? If so, was it on local or national news? Why do you think young men by the thousands are traveling here without any women or children? What do you think could be done about the border being closed to Mexican and American citizens?
This is a banner photo from the National Monument website.
Oh my…I’ve heard nothing about this but sense danger. I know you, with your big heart and journalist skills will get to the bottom of it all. Intense!
It’s a troubling situation that is getting worse. After the men are processed they are released into our country with a notice to appear at some future date for a court date for asylum. I worry about people who rely on that border crossing for their livelihood or medical care.
Yes, yes. Especially the family and those like them that you wrote about. 😔
Next week I have a lunch with a women’s group I’m a member of that supports a residential facility for trafficked women. We will have a guest speaker who is a former border agent and currently works rescuing trafficked people. I’ll find out more info. But this I’m sure is the cartel who moved into the isolated area of Lukeville and have taken over.
Oh my. Oh my. 😔
So much for our relaxing beach get aways! 🥲
New locations await! 😉
I’m glad I got to experience the beautiful beach and seafood a few times. Maybe in the future, too.
🥰❤️🥰
👍🏼
This seems disturbing that so many people wanted to cross the border that they had to close that point. I hope they reopen it soon so that legitimate people can cross it.
I agree with you. I think the legal people should come first. Or that the governor should call for more help to keep things at the border under control. They are letting the migrants through on foot for processing but closed the drive through lanes for Americans and Mexicans with passports.
I guess with everything going as it is, they must be feeling overwhelmed
So true. Also our government officials including the governor and senators say this is unacceptable, but offer no solutions.
We also have such inefficient people in charge.
No kidding!
Unfortunately 🥲
I did not know that this specific crossing was involved, but just as I was reading this post a news story popped up on the TV about border issues yet again. It has to be terrifying for the people in your favorite small town to anticipate managing without tourist dollars, and that’s only one aspect of the impact from one action. So many ripples that spread out in all directions from 1 decision. It seems like you can never really balance out who wins and who loses or adequately begin to have an equitable outcome for everyone.
I’m glad you have read about it. Because the border patrol is so overwhelmed, they’ve shut down legal crossings. I’m afraid the cartel will gain more power over this situation and take over the resort town if they haven’t all ready.
I’ve not heard of this, but I’m not surprised in the least. We have a friend with a second home in Puerto Peñasco, so we’ll need to ask him if he knows anything. What I have heard is that illegal migrants are being handed $5,000 Visa gift cards upon entry, which feels like a slap in the face to those of us working those who are or scraping by on minimal disability/social security benefits. I’m all for citizenship via legal routes, but the border crisis is a real problem and I fear those who don’t live in border states can’t fully understand.
I heard yesterday that migrants are handed $5k but it was from the cartel. That’s really not fair if it’s our government giving them the cash. I also find it interesting that the cages are full but I don’t see any media or people caring about that anymore. I’m curious what your friend with the home in Puerto Penasco has to say. I heard from a realtor in one development in Puerto Penasco that 50% of the homes were owned by Americans. Most of them rely on renting their homes to afford them.
I may have misunderstood about the cartel vs. government handing out money. Either way, we really should not be incentivizing illegal behavior. Dr. Zeus meets up with him once or twice a month, so I’ve have him ask the next time they meet up. I think he rents it out as an Airbnb sometimes, so would likely be affected by border closure. Also, the burning of local regional cacti is awful… many struggle to propagate, and it take several decades to grow. It’s a sad situation all around, it’s unfortunate that news outlets aren’t taking note and bringing awareness to the issue.
It’s sad all around. I’m not sure why the cartel would hand out money unless it’s for smuggling fentanyl. I agree it’s not good if it’s the cartel or the government.
A friend sent me an email about the $5,000 gift cards. The story originated with a Sheriff from Pinal County. He’s on a Youtube saying that’s true.
No I haven’t . Sounds bad!
I don’t understand why the media is ignoring this story. The people in Mexico and border towns are going to suffer.
Because they’ve been told to ignore it. It’s election season !
All of a sudden people in cages no longer matter. I prefer people who understand right and wrong and stick to that regardless of elections season, regardless of party.
I’m afraid the world-wide immigration problems are only going to get worse. With poverty, drugs, violence, wars (probably why there are a lot of military-aged men), and drought due to climate change, people are trying to get anywhere they can to find a better life. It is sad that Puerto Penasco will suffer.
I just heard a radio story about people sustaining massive back and brain injuries as they are trying to climb border walls that have been made higher. Desperation leads to poor decisions.
Wouldn’t it be great if our government could stop fighting and posturing and work together to come up with some sort of plan?
You’re probably right about why they are all military aged men. I hadn’t thought of that. I worry for people on both sides of the border who cross all the time for healthcare or run businesses. Some organization is behind this, probably a cartel. It would be nice if the government would do something.
Something like this really does need to be in the news. Let us know when you find out more.
I will find out more at a lunch on Wednesday when a former border control is the guest speaker. Our governor is headed to the border today, so maybe that will generate some news.
Our “open border policy” in this country has ruined things for a lot of people on both sides of the line. The sheer number of people crossing illegally is staggering and the people from China, the Mideast and other hostile countries is terrifying. No longer is America a refuge for those in need of asylum.
What’s also scary is the people who are crossing the border aren’t even asking for asylum. They said in interviews they are coming for work. I have a post for tomorrow about a human trafficking expert who spoke at a lunch I went to yesterday. I asked him about the border crossing and he said, “It’s radical.”