First Democrat Endorses Bill Removing Polygraph Test For Experienced Applicants

Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) has taken a bold step by becoming the first Democrat to support the Anti-Border Corruption Improvement Act, a bill that seeks to streamline the hiring process for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The legislation aims to eliminate the polygraph requirement for applicants with law enforcement or military backgrounds, addressing significant recruitment challenges faced by CBP.

Running for the Senate seat formerly held by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), Gallego’s endorsement of the bill highlights his willingness to cross party lines for practical border security solutions. Experts estimate that removing the polygraph test could facilitate the hiring of an additional 5,000 Border Patrol agents, significantly boosting CBP’s capacity.

“When I meet with CBP and border community leaders, one of the first things they mention to me is the shortage of CBP officers,” Gallego explained. “Securing our border should be a bipartisan issue, which is why I’m proud to be the first to cross the aisle and support this commonsense legislation to expedite CBP hiring.”

The bill, introduced in January last year, is currently being reviewed by the House Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement. Gallego’s support has sparked criticism from Republicans, including his opponent Kari Lake, who has criticized his voting record and alignment with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Gallego remains committed to securing more resources for border communities, having secured substantial federal funding and introduced multiple bills to improve border security and migrant processing. His balanced approach to immigration policy, including his stance on Title 42, demonstrates his focus on effective governance.

As the Arizona Senate race heats up, classified as “Lean Democratic” by the Cook Political Report, border security continues to be a pivotal issue for voters.