Congresswoman Lesko Weekly Update

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Get the Facts: Terrorists at the Border

Biden’s border crisis has left us vulnerable. We’ve seen criminal gangs, human trafficking, drug smuggling, murder, and more. Still, there could be something lurking that’s even more sinister. Between October 2020 and May 2024, more than 1,500 Tajik nationals crossed our Southern Border. In the 14 years prior, only 26 crossed. Bordering both China and Afghanistan, Tajikistan is known as a hotbed of ISIS recruitment, which coincidentally has skyrocketed under the Biden Administration. Many of these migrants come with potentially falsified or incomplete documentation and claim asylum once caught before then dispersing throughout the United States while awaiting their court hearing which could be 3, 5, or more years in the future. Thus, the surge in Tajik nationals has many experts on high alert, including University of Michigan professor and former counterterrorism official Javed Ali who said the surge may be ISIS’s way of, “seeding people into the United States” in preparations for a potential terrorist attack. Although it is true that many of the migrants coming here are simply looking for a better life, Biden’s open-border policies leave out the very real threat an open border poses to our nation. Just this year, we have seen the news where young girls and women have been raped and murdered, NYPD officers have been assaulted, a state trooper in Washington State was killed, and that’s not even counting the thousands of Americans who have died as a result of the fentanyl being smuggled across the border. It is vital that we remain watchful and pass significant border security policies, like the House’s H.R. 2, if we want to stand any chance in keeping the American people safe. We’ve already spent years fighting the war on terror abroad, but the Biden Administration’s negligence at the Southern Border could have us fighting it here at home as well.

Around the District

Congratulations to Anay Navghare on being selected as the 1st place winner of the 2024 Congressional Art Competition for Arizona’s 8th Congressional District.

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Congratulations to Jessica Finnie on being selected as the 2nd place winner of the 2024 Congressional Art Competition for Arizona’s 8th Congressional District.
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Congratulations to Sanya Shah on being selected as the 3rd place winner of the 2024 Congressional Art Competition for Arizona’s 8th Congressional District.

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Team Lesko attended the ribbon cutting for Slick City Action Park in Peoria. This location is the first of several coming to Arizona. 

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Casework Highlight

A constituent contacted our office for help with a 2023 tax return where a refund was owed. The IRS had accepted the tax return, but never deposited the refund. We contacted the IRS to find out where it was and as a result, the refund was sent to the constituent.

Global Entry Process Renewal

If you already have Global Entry for traveling and have not yet renewed your membership, now may be the time. Eligibility to renew your membership begins one year prior to program expiration, but you will still be eligible to use benefits up to 24 months following your membership expiration date. In order to renew your membership visit the link here

Military Academy Nominations

As a member of Congress, I have the privilege of nominating a limited number of people to four of the five service academies. This would include nominating candidates for appointment to the U.S. Military Academy (West Point), the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. The fifth service academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy does not require a congressional nomination for appointment. For more information click here.

Tell Congresswoman Lesko

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We are Here to Help

As always, my office is here to help. My Surprise district office is open and serving constituents. To make an appointment with the office, please call 623-776-7911.

My Washington, D.C. office is open and answering your calls. Please feel free to contact us via phone at 202-225-4576 or via email by going to my website at https://lesko.house.gov/contact/.

I encourage you to visit the website and to also follow me on Twitter, Instagram and my Facebook page for up to date information on what I'm doing and how my office can help you.

May God continue to bless you and our great Nation.

Sincerely,

Congresswoman Debbie Lesko

 

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