New port coming to southern Arizona

(The Center Square)— Douglas, Arizona, could soon be getting a new commercial port of entry.

The United States General Services Administration issued a contract for a new port to be built, with a price tag ranging from $125-$145 million. Overall, the project is expected to cost $170-220 million through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, according to a news release.

“For decades, leaders in Douglas, Cochise County, and the State of Arizona have called for the construction of a new, commercial land port of entry in Douglas. Since my first official visit to Arizona’s southern border, modernizing our ports of entry has been a top priority for me. Now, we’re finally getting it done,” Sen. Mark Kelly said in a statement.

The port is meant to be a supplement to the existing one in the small city that borders Agua Prieta, Mexico. The Raul H. Castro port is also getting revamped, as the GSA states on its website that the port first constructed in 1933 is not up to bar with Customs and Border Protections “mission requirements.” Those changes come with a $184 million cost.

“This new commercial port in Douglas will not only increase processing and inspection capacity, strengthening supply chains and facilitating hundreds of millions of dollars in trade, but it will also expand the ability to screen for illicit drugs more effectively. This is a win for Arizona’s economy, a meaningful step towards a two-port solution, and a major effort to secure our border,” he added.

The county website states that the ports could bringing in another $10.8-20 million a year with the investment, as well as act as an economic driver for the local community.

Douglas is located in the Tucson Sector, which faced over 452,000 migrant encounters in fiscal year 2024 so far. Legal ports of entry are common spots where drug trafficking is detected by border authorities.

Vice President Kamala Harris touted the funding at a campaign stop to Douglas last Friday.