The Sun Lakes Republican Club will feature “Southern Border Issues,” with Border Patrol Agent Art Del Cueto at its regular meeting on Tuesday, May 12, at 6:30 p.m. in the Arizona Room of the Sun Lakes Country Club, 25601 S. Sun Lakes Blvd., Sun Lakes, AZ 85248. The public is invited. This is a presentation that you will want to share with your friends and neighbors!
“I lock my door at night because I love the people inside, not because I hate the people outside.” “Illegal is not a race.” Art Del Cueto made these statements during his interviews on national news. Now you can see him right here in Sun Lakes! Art has been with the U.S. Border Patrol since 2003, patrolling our southern border for the past 17 years. He responds to over 90% of all significant incidents within the Tucson Sector including shootings, accidents, and agent assaults. As an agent who is fluent in Spanish, he routinely leads the questioning of apprehended subjects.
Del Cueto’s first duty station was Casa Grande, where he helped in the effort to establish a new substation at Three Points, AZ. Throughout most of his career, he patrolled on the Tohono O’odham reservation, assisting on numerous drug and smuggling cases.
Art has also worked for the National Border Patrol Council (NBPC) for the last 10 years. In 2012, Art was elected president of NBPC Local 2544 by the membership. Local 2544 is the largest local in the National Border Patrol Council with over 4,500 members. Art has held several different positions with the Tucson sector local including executive vice president and first vice president. Art is one of the most knowledgeable people on Arizona border politics, history, and the cultural connections shared between sister cities separated by a border.
Art is originally from Mexico, deriving his U.S. citizenship from his father, and grew up in Douglas, AZ, a city along the US/Mexico border. Art learned early of the challenges border communities face. He also has seen firsthand the growing dangers of international drug cartels. Art will tell you that the border was different and safer when he was a kid.
Prior to joining the patrol, Art worked for a maximum-security state prison in Tucson. Art is active within his community and has volunteered his time assisting many different Tucson charities. Music has always been a large part of Art’s life. Throughout his high school and college years, he played in a heavy metal band. His love for live music keeps him engaged with communities throughout the West.
AZ State Representative Jeff Weninger will provide a state legislative update. For more information, visit our website at www.slgop.org, or contact Mike Tennant at 480-802-0178.