LUKEVILLE, Ariz. — The Lukeville Port of Entry on the Arizona-Mexico border is closing with no date to reopen in sight.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) called for the closure amid a surge in migrants crossing from Mexico into the United States.
Arizonans vacationing in Puerto Peñasco or Rocky Point on Sunday rushed back home before it closed.
“I came back early this morning early this morning because I didn’t know what the situation was going to be," Jay Schweitzer said.
Schweitzer told 12News he waited about 40 minutes longer than usual to cross the border.
“It was a long line. It was probably close to a mile when I approached and I was a little shocked that it was that long of a wait," Schweitzer said.
The closure is expected to impact companies and nonprofits on both sides of the border.
“I’ve been going to Rocky Point for some 30-odd years and I have never known this port of entry to close," Barb's Dog Rescue of Rocky Point CEO Gina Benner said.
Benner told 12News the Lukeville Port of Entry is essential for her nonprofit.
Barb's Dog Rescue of Rocky Point gets food, medications and other supplies from Arizona.
“We can get it in Mexico if we need to but we’ve got partners in Why and some of those other border towns that keep food for us and we routinely bring it over," Benner said.
Plus, Benner said nearly every dog in the shelter finds its forever home in the United States.
“We take dogs in every day and so if this goes on for more than a few days, we’re going to get to a point where we’re full and we won’t have the same kind of opportunities to get the dogs into their new homes in Arizona primarily," Benner said.
CBS said the closure comes amid a surge in migration, redirecting Lukeville personnel to assist with taking migrants into custody at other points.
In a joint statement, Gov. Katie Hobbs and Arizona Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly called the closure unacceptable.
Meanwhile, Schweitzer is rethinking plans to return to Rocky Point anytime soon.
“Hopefully, it gets resolved," Schweitzer said.
CBP has yet to say how long the closure will last.
VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL: Se espera que el cierre del puerto de entrada de Lukeville afecte a ambos lados de la frontera entre México y Arizona
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