Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) has made headlines by becoming the first Democrat to back the Anti-Border Corruption Improvement Act, a bill aimed at expanding U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) hiring. This legislation proposes removing the polygraph test requirement for CBP applicants with previous law enforcement experience or military security clearances.
Gallego, who is running for the Arizona Senate seat vacated by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), believes that this bill is crucial for addressing the widespread recruitment problems faced by CBP. Experts estimate that eliminating the polygraph requirement could facilitate the hiring of an additional 5,000 Border Patrol agents.
“When I meet with CBP and border community leaders, one of the first things they mention to me is the shortage of CBP officers,” Gallego said in a statement to the Washington Examiner. “Securing our border should be a bipartisan issue, which is why I’m proud to be the first to cross the aisle and support this commonsense legislation to expedite CBP hiring.”
Gallego’s support for the bill highlights his focus on practical solutions to border security challenges. He emphasized that law enforcement officers and veterans who have already served the country shouldn’t face unnecessary hurdles when seeking to serve again.
The legislation was introduced in January of last year and is currently referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement in the House. Despite his support for this bill, Gallego faces criticism from Republicans, including his GOP opponent Kari Lake. Lake’s recent ad attacks Gallego for his voting record, citing his alignment with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
While the number of migrants arrested at the U.S.-Mexico border has dropped to levels not seen since the Trump administration, Gallego continues to advocate for more federal resources for border towns. He secured over $2 million in emergency funding from the Department of Homeland Security last year and has introduced several bills to aid border communities.
The Arizona Senate race, rated “Lean Democratic” by the Cook Political Report, is one of several key races in the upcoming elections.
