Johnson will be in Southern Arizona next week. Details of his trip have not been announced.
On Dec. 19, just three days after Johnson’s confirmation by the U.S. Senate, Barber, one of only nine members of the House representing a district on the U.S.-Mexico border, spoke with Johnson to congratulate him on his new position and to invite him to visit the stretch of border he represents. Johnson was sworn in as DHS secretary on Dec. 23.
In a letter inviting Johnson, Barber wrote: “The area of the border that I represent in Southern Arizona is the most porous for the smuggling of illegal drugs and continues to have one of the highest rates of apprehension for people entering the country illegally.”
Barber told Johnson that touring the border in Southern Arizona “will give you a firsthand look at the conditions at one of the nation’s highest traffic areas; talk with the men and women I represent who live on the border and foster a greater mutual understanding of our border security needs.”
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