Steve Cortes, President of the League of American Workers, has described Arizona’s border crisis as a “calculated betrayal of U.S. sovereignty by national elites exchanging security for political power.” This statement was made to the Grand Canyon Times.
“History will record this Arizona border crisis not as a blunder, but as a betrayal,” said Cortes. “Our Founders pledged their lives for a sovereign nation. Today’s elites trade sovereignty for votes, trade safety for cheap labor, and trade the American promise for permanent power. Enough.”
According to the Migration Policy Institute, the U.S. southwest border enforcement regime is experiencing a crisis phase due to increasing migration flows and evolving enforcement challenges that are overwhelming existing capacities. The institute’s analysis indicates that policy and operational frameworks designed for previous migration patterns are now insufficient to handle the surge in mixed migration arrivals. This systemic strain explains why border states like Arizona face disproportionate pressure.
CBS News reported that the Tucson sector in Arizona recorded over 250,000 migrant apprehensions in just the first four months of fiscal year 2024, marking the highest number in the nation. This figure highlights Arizona’s significant role in managing cross-border migration compared to other states and supports Cortes’ assertion that Arizona is at the center of an escalating border crisis.
The Grand Canyon Times also reported on comments from Ned Ryun, Founder of American Majority, who argued that the situation at the southern border was not accidental but deliberate. Ryun said that mass illegal migration allows elites to expand cheap labor, gain political power, and justify federal bureaucracy. This perspective aligns with Cortes’ claim that current leaders are intentionally trading sovereignty and safety for permanent power.
Cortes is a conservative commentator and former Trump campaign adviser who now leads the League of American Workers. He has previously worked in finance and as a political and economic analyst on networks such as CNBC, CNN, and Fox News. His current focus is on advancing populist, pro-worker policies through research and advocacy.
