Senate President Petersen, House Speaker Montenegro Work with Trump Administration to Reimburse Arizona for Border Security Costs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Senate President Petersen, House Speaker Montenegro Work with Trump Administration to Reimburse Arizona for Border Security Costs

PHOENIX, ARIZONA— Republican leaders in the Arizona Legislature are working with the Trump Administration to ensure taxpayers are reimbursed for the hundreds of millions of dollars Arizona spent securing the southern border while the Biden Administration failed to act. Today, Senate President Warren Petersen and House Speaker Steve Montenegro sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem requesting reimbursement under the newly passed One Big Beautiful Bill.

The letter outlines how Arizona appropriated $599 million through the creation of the Border Security Fund in 2021 and 2022, as well as another $145 million over five years for law enforcement and border-related enforcement efforts. These resources were directed toward securing the border, assisting sheriffs and DPS, and implementing President Trump's vision of a southern border wall.

Earlier this year, President Petersen joined attorneys general from across the country for a border tour to observe federal and state efforts firsthand. The group reviewed how President Trump's policies created the most secure border in modern history, with resources and enforcement strategies that proved effective without the need for new legislation.

"For four years, the Biden Administration failed to defend our border, leaving Arizona to shoulder the burden," said President Petersen. "Our Republican-led Legislature invested more than half a billion dollars to keep our citizens safe, and it is only right that those costs now be reimbursed. We didn't need new laws – we just needed a new President. President Trump and Secretary Noem have already proven that border security is once again a top priority."

The One Big Beautiful Bill authorizes $10 billion for Secretary Noem to reimburse states for costs incurred during the Biden Administration. Arizona's Republican leaders emphasized that any funds received will be deposited into the state's General Fund under the oversight of the Legislature to ensure the money is used responsibly and provides relief to Arizona taxpayers.

"Unlike Governor Hobbs, House and Senate Republicans have stood firm on border security from the start," said Speaker Montenegro. "Arizona voters made their voices clear when they overwhelmingly passed the Secure the Border Act that Democrats tried to block. Our citizens know they can trust the Republican Legislature to safeguard and wisely direct any funds Arizona receives through the One Big Beautiful Bill. Thanks to President Trump and his administration, Washington is finally treating border security as a priority again, and Arizona taxpayers deserve to be reimbursed for the work we had to do during Biden's dereliction of duty."

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For more information, contact:

Kim Quintero

Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus kquintero@azleg.gov

Andrew Wilder

Director of Communications | Arizona House of Representatives Republican Caucus awilder@azleg.gov