Arizona refuses to remove shipping containers along border wall

Arizona has refused the federal government’s demand to take down double-stacked shipping containers it placed to fill gaps in the wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, saying it won’t do so until the U.S. moves to construct a permanent barrier instead.

The Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs dug in its heels in a letter to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, saying "the containers will remain in place until specific details regarding construction are provided." It was signed by Allen Clark, the department’s director.

A regional spokeswoman for the Bureau of Reclamation did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Arizona’s refusal in the most recent flap between the Biden administration and Republican-led border states over immigration policies.

The federal agency told Arizona officials in a letter last week that the containers were unauthorized and violated U.S. law. The bureau also demanded that no new containers be placed, saying it wanted to prevent conflicts with two federal contracts already awarded and two more still pending to fill border wall gaps near the Morelos Dam in the Yuma, Arizona, area.

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey ordered installation of more than 100 double-stacked containers that were placed over the summer, saying he couldn’t wait for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to award the contracts it had announced for the work.

Migrants have continued to avoid the recently erected barriers by going around them, including through the Cocopah Indian Reservation. The Cocopah Indian Tribe has complained that Arizona acted against its wishes by placing 42 of the double stacks on its land.

The border wall promoted by former President Donald Trump continues to be a potent issue for Republican politicians hoping to show their support for border security.

President Joe Biden halted wall construction his first day in office, leaving billions of dollars of work unfinished but still under contract. The Biden administration has made a few exceptions for small projects at areas deemed unsafe for people to cross, including the gaps near Yuma.

#fox10phoenix #borderwall #border #arizona

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[susanasalinas]

When your country is being invaded, you have a right to protect it

[jdogc]

Nice work Arizona. Too bad that derelict bafoon in Washington who is failing to uphold his oath won't do the job.

[Pickinpackinmama]

Good for Arizona!! keep borders safe!!

[EdwinBonilla]

If the state governments must protect the border, then that's what it takes.

[robberrt]

I suggest Arizona officials solicit bids to fill all these containers with concrete.

[mygunclyde]

Stack 'em high! and fill 'em with concrete!

[jb]

Thank you Arizona leaders for trying to keep our borders safe

[listeningtolydia]

Good for Governor Ducey a bit too late but better now than never

[SKYSCRAPERTELEVISION]

Oh, NOW they want to bring the Law into

[macmcleod]

Hysterical. You can cut thru a shipping container like butter.

[tamm]

Good Az…keep them all and it should have been 3stack higher too…👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[VernLeRoy]

Good Patriotic American's Want those containers to Stay in place!! If the POTUS okayed the Wall, What Law would it be breaking, to put temporary Walls up until construction restarts? Why would they want to remove them?? Removing them would only help the Invaders. Where is the Mexican GOV, why do they let these people walk right through there Country? FJB

[nyccookie]

Good For you Arizona! Your doing better than my state New York. 💯

[edwardbondoc]

Good job, Gov!!!! Stand your ground!!!!

[ds]

They need to finish the wall. The Yuma checkpoint is abandoned leaving Yuma. Absolutely ridiculous and every politician should be drug down to the border to see the human and environmental disaster that's at play here.

[startuphub]

We have a major affordable housing problem in the US, rampant vagrancy and homelessness, and Biden wants to exacerbate this problem that the government cannot solve. This will serious increase our inner city problems.

[aikanae]

Haven't we spent enough on lawsuits?

[anthonynelson]

In the small village where I grew up, they have a saying, Screw you Brandon screw you.

[skylargardner]

Looks great keep up the great work! Wish more people told the government far away to suck it ...

[Rockinthehill]

On behalf of Mexicos Department of Housing we want to thank all you gringos for installing new housing along the border for us You will soon be able to smell the scent of fresh tortillas and Tacos grilling from our new homes! Gracias so much thanks again!