Leaders in the state of Arizona have told Democrat President Joe Biden to go pound sand and rejected the administration’s demand to take down double-stacked shipping containers it placed to fill gaps in the wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation told Arizona last week in a demand letter that it was violating federal law by placing more than 100 containers on federal land and on the land of the Cocopah Indian Tribe’s Reservation.
“The unauthorized placement of those containers constitutes a violation of federal law and is a trespass against the United States,” the letter said.
“That trespass is harming federal lands and resources and impeding Reclamation’s ability to perform its mission.”
But Arizona’s Republican Gov. Doug Ducey refused the federal government’s demand, warning that his state won’t move the barriers until Biden does his job and builds a wall and secures the border.
Ducey said: “Arizonans cannot — and will not — wait for federal bureaucrats to do their job and secure the border. We’re taking action now.”
Arizonans cannot — and will not — wait for federal bureaucrats to do their job and secure the border. We’re taking action now. https://t.co/rsrns8uwlB
— Doug Ducey (@DougDucey) October 19, 2022
The Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs sent a letter back to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, saying “the containers will remain in place until specific details regarding construction are provided.”
Ducey’s Communications Director C.J. Karamargin said:
“It took the feds since August to write a letter? If this is any indication of their sense of urgency, then perhaps that explains the problem we’re having.”
The Border Barrier Mission is working. Arizona is protecting its citizens. Why the federal government won’t is beyond belief. @abc15 @fayfredricks pic.twitter.com/EbfEwB6qtj
— Doug Ducey (@DougDucey) October 20, 2022
HAPPENING NOW: Construction begins on a physical barrier at the Yuma portion of the border
🔸60 double-stacked shipping containers, welded shut
🔸Topped with 4 feet of razor wire
🔸Height: 22 feet
🔸Weight: 8,800 lbs pic.twitter.com/VQmYIynf8U— Doug Ducey (@DougDucey) August 12, 2022
