/ Modified feb 11, 2017 10:20 a.m.

Episode 302: Homeland Security Chief Visits Arizona Border

Plus, a school voucher bill moves through the state Legislature amid the controversial confirmation of Betsy DeVos.

Arizona law enforcement officials on Thursday met with the new Homeland Security secretary, who made his first trip to the Arizona border as the Trump administration’s head of that department.

“I am from the federal government, and I am not here to help. I am here to partner and learn from you all,” Secretary John Kelly told the sheriffs of border counties and other local law enforcement.

The sheriffs of Pima, Santa Cruz, Cochise and Yuma counties all left the meeting with positive things to say, some characterizing it as a listening session. All acknowledged that few precise details were nailed down regarding changes to policy, funding or President Donald Trump’s promise to build a wall along the border, but at least two officials called the meeting “refreshing.”

“He didn’t come down and say, ‘This is what is going to happen, this is what I’ve been told to do,” said Santa Cruz County Sheriff Tony Estrada.

Pima County Sheriff Mark Napier said Kelly’s visit allowed him and others to educate the secretary about Arizona’s unique issues.

“There are going to be challenges on the Tohono O’odham Indian Reservation. You know their receptivity to having intrusions onto the tribal lands is a very sensitive issue,” Napier said. “there are also areas there that are environmentally sensitive along our border. So there are places where technology and human resources may be a wall.”

Also on Arizona Week

This week saw the controversial confirmation of Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, an advocate of school choice and vouchers. Jill Koyama of the University of Arizona education department speaks about the impact of DeVos’ policies on Arizona.

And some in the state Legislature are already moving on changes to education in Arizona. A bill sponsored by Republican state Sen. Debbie Lesko would expand private school vouchers. It passed its first committee this week on a party-line vote.

Approximately 5,000 Arizona students use vouchers for private schools. Such students qualify because they live with a disability, are adopted, come from a military family, or had attended a public school with a grade of D or F. Sally Cooper, Financial Aid Manager at Salpointe High School, talked to us about the situation of students with vouchers at her school.

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