
Pearce said it has been one year since the President seized 500,000 acres in southern New Mexico for the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument designation – a move Pearce said was done without regard for the concerns of the people in southern New Mexico, and a move which prevents proper border security measures from being carried out in the area.
He added that a similar move in Arizona at the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument has opened a human- and drug-smuggling corridor.
Pearce said his bill does not change the size of the monument, but rather ensures that the U.S. Border Patrol has unfettered access to the monument land.
He added that his bill has strong support from the local community and law enforcement, including an endorsement from Luna County.