Arizona’s Republican Governor Doug Ducey has put Democrat President Joe Biden’s “border czar” Kamala Harris on notice and announced he has done the VP’s job for her.
Gov. Ducey revealed that his state has completed filling the gaps in the wall along part of Arizona’s porous border with Mexico over the weekend.
“The thousand-foot gap in the border wall near Yuma is closed,” Ducey said.
More work still remains, however, because the absent federal government is slow to move.
According to KAWC, the construction near Yuma was the first of many gaps that will be filled by the state.
The next gap Arizona is targeting is near the Morelos Dam outside Yuma.
“It is definitely helpful,” Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls said.
“It’s interim, but there’s 700 or 800 people coming through the border every day.
“It won’t stop them all, we have over 50 gaps in the wall.”
He said using shipping containers is the interim plan to fill the gaps while they wait for the Biden administration to complete the wall as it promised.
The Biden admin had promised to complete the work but border states are still waiting.
Meanwhile, the “border czar” is nowhere to be seen, forcing states to step in and take action.
“Yes, same gaps,” Nicholls said.
“In the last two weeks, we got funding for filling the gaps, but it needs federal approval.
“Because of the time between now and then, it could take them 16 weeks or so to fill it,” Nicholls said of Biden’s slow-footed response.
“That’s a lot of people coming through, I think it’s worth it to spend now and slow the flow.”
“Arizona has had enough,” said Governor Ducey when he announced his interim plan.
“We can’t wait any longer.
“The Biden administration’s lack of urgency on border security is a dereliction of duty.
“For the last two years, Arizona has made every attempt to work with Washington to address the crisis on our border.
“Time and time again we’ve stepped in to clean up their mess.
“Arizonans can’t wait any longer for the federal government to deliver on their delayed promises.”
“Our border communities are being used as the entryway to the United States, overwhelming law enforcement, hospitals, nonprofits, and residents,” Governor Ducey said.
“It’s our responsibility to protect our citizens and law enforcement from this unprecedented crisis.
“With the resources and manpower in the right places, our Border Patrol and law enforcement will be better equipped to do their jobs well and prevent cartels from exploiting our communities.
“That’s exactly what our barrier mission will do.”
“National security starts with border security,” said Jonathan Lines, Yuma County Supervisor.
“Biden’s border crisis deteriorates daily while the White House is silent.
“Border communities like Yuma bear the burden of a broken border while narcotics poison our youth, human smuggling rises and mass amounts of migrants wear on our nonprofits.
“Beyond that, the seizure of counterfeit products at our ports of entry affects American businesses.
“Governor Ducey has been a consummate partner, coordinating and leading state and local resources to do what the federal government won’t: secure the border.”
“The Yuma community does not have the infrastructure to handle thousands of people crossing the border in need of food, shelter, and medical services,” said Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls.
“The surge of migrants the federal government has allowed to trek over the border has the grave potential to greatly impact and strain our community.
“Washington must send a clear message that this is not the way to immigrate to our country.
“Too many migrants make the treacherous journey that puts their lives in danger and exposes them to exploitation by cartels.
“Yuma has experienced the worst of the border crisis.
“We’re grateful to Governor Ducey for ingraining himself in this issue and finding solutions.”
“The White House lacks a sense of urgency and detail while the border crisis gets worse every day.
“In Arizona, we put our money where our mouth is,” said Tim Roemer, Arizona Department of Homeland Security Director and the state’s Chief Information Security Officer.
“The brave men and women of law enforcement need this support so they can conduct their important work catching the people who don’t want to get caught and stopping lethal drugs from coming over the border.
“Governor Ducey once again showed he’ll take action to secure the border and give law enforcement every resource in the state’s power.”
The thousand-foot gap in the border wall near Yuma is closed.
BEFORE: AFTER: pic.twitter.com/b32XQHXFMN
— Doug Ducey (@DougDucey) August 15, 2022
Ducey’s office issued a statement that said:
The governor’s action comes just days after the Biden administration lifted the Remain in Mexico policy.
This action is the latest in a series of misguided decisions related to border security by the federal government.
The White House continues to demonstrate failed border policies, all but encouraging transnational criminal organizations to import illegal drugs across an unrestricted southern border in Arizona.
Fortifying the border will be 60 double-stacked shipping containers, reinforced with concertina wire at the top.
The shipping containers will reach about 22 feet high.
The state-owned, 8,800-pound, 9-by-40-feet containers will be linked together and welded shut.
The panels of the border wall constructed during the Trump administration are 30 feet high.
Construction began Friday morning on the thousand-foot gap in the border wall near Yuma, Arizona.
Emergency management contractor Ashbritt is constructing the barriers.
The 25-person team includes heavy equipment operators, operation supervisors, and a safety manager.
The project will be completed over the weekend.
The barrier mission delivers on the most meaningful border security legislation in Arizona history, which passed the Arizona Legislature this year.
Of the $335 million investment in the Arizona Border Security Fund to construct and maintain a border fence, it will take $6 million to fill the thousand-foot gap in Yuma.
The Yuma border wall gap is a notorious opening in United States border security through which thousands of migrants and an unimaginable number of lethal narcotics flow through every day.
The Yuma Sector saw 235,230 migrant encounters from October 2021 to June 2022 – an ominous acceleration for the sector which already experienced the highest yearly increase among all sectors in fiscal year 2021.
