As we reported here in July, the existing border wall near Yuma, Arizona, contains numerous large gaps through which illegal migrants can easily walk through. The migrant influx through the gaps this year had grown so politically embarassing for Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ), who is running for re-election, that he prevailed upon the Biden administration to plug the gaps.
Biden, who had famously vowed never to build “another foot” of wall, nevertheless agreed and began the glacially interminable task of putting out bids, etc, in a process that could take months.
Frustrated by federal inaction, Governor Ducey, a Republican, then ordered state officials to begin plugging the gaps themselves, using rows of 60-foot shipping containers, stacked two high, to form an 18-foot-high barrier topped by four feet of razor wire.
The first of the containers were moved into place at a 1,000-foot gap on Friday, August 12, and work had nearly been completed on that gap by Sunday evening when work ceased. Late that night, however, officials discovered that two of the containers–which had not yet been bolted and welded into place–had mysteriously been toppled.
State officials discounted the theory that high winds had somehow blown the 8,800-pound containers over, citing evidence that suggested deliberate sabotage. The state acted to dispatch workers to the site immediately, but the Border Patrol somewhat amusingly advised waiting until morning so as not to interfere with night-time migrant use of the gap(!) The containers were set aright early Monday morning.
By Wednesday, four gaps had been filled, and on Thursday, Ducey announced a fifth was planned. The mayor of Yuma has said up to 50 gaps exist; the Biden government had agreed to fill only four.
As with his and Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s migrant-busing policies, Governor Ducey is demonstrating again that determined state action can mitigate at least some of the damage done by federal negligence.
For more, see the Washington Examiner.