“We were all actively involved in lobbying our congressional delegates to see the supplemental funding take place. However, $30 million is really going to be reimbursing communities like mine, pennies on the dollar for the supplies and the manpower and resources that we’ve been asked to donate to this crisis in our country,” said John Giles, mayor of Mesa, Arizona, during a press conference Thursday afternoon.
Six mayors from cities in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona detailed the costs their communities have incurred in that time and knocked lawmakers for the delay it took for short-term assistance. The bipartisan group spoke after touring Customs and Border Protection facilities with acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan.