The week, the project Governor Doug Ducey began to fill gaps in the border wall, was completed. A total of 3,820 feet of previously open border near Yuma, Arizona is now closed with a barrier of double-stacked and secured shipping containers.
The funding for the initiative was included in the border security legislation passed by the Arizona Legislature earlier this year.
The Yuma Border Barrier Mission was launched when Governor Ducey issued an Executive Order on August 12th. The last of the 130 shipping containers was installed on August 23rd.
“On the day President Biden was sworn into office, he issued a proclamation ordering a pause in the construction of the border wall going up on our southern border,” Ducey said in a press release. “Since then, illegal activity in Yuma and other border communities have skyrocketed. Arizona could not just stand by and allow this situation to continue.”
🔹11 days
🔹5 gaps
🔹130 shipping containers
🔹3,820 linear feet
🔹48 workersWe did it. Yuma is safer today. pic.twitter.com/VXNHDnvbmS
— Doug Ducey (@DougDucey) August 24, 2022
Arizona was informed in December 2021 that the gaps left open by the pause in construction would soon be filled. The federal government has still not fulfilled their promise.
It took 48 workers from contractor Ashbritt to install the 8,800-pound shipping containers and the 4,500 feet of concertina wire.
Recent numbers from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection show the Yuma sector had 259,895 migrant encounters from October 2021 to July 2022 – a nearly 250 percent increase from the prior year and the highest increase of all border sectors. Nearly 24,500 of those encounters were in July.
Yuma communities, hospitals, nonprofits, food banks and shelters have been overcapacity for months. The barrier mission looked to relieve the hard-struck community quickly and efficiently.
“Every day hundreds of people come across the border into the Yuma area,” said Yuma Mayor Douglas Nicholls. “By closing the border wall gaps, Governor Ducey is helping to protect our city from the dangerous drugs and bad actors that come through on a daily basis. Yuma is grateful for the effective process of getting these containers in place quickly and secured. Governor Ducey showed the nation how to secure the border and keep illegal activity at the border at bay.”
The Yuma sector has seen some of the highest numbers of border crossers, as transnational criminal organizations flood the open border to pull away law enforcement resources and bring dangerous drugs into the nation at unprecedented rates.
☑️ 3,820 feet of previously open border closed with 130 shipping containers pic.twitter.com/nmeq6joxIX
— Doug Ducey (@DougDucey) August 24, 2022
A recent CBP drug seizure shows the tactics cartels are using to target and exploit younger users, creating “candy-like” fentanyl pills.
“The open border left behind by the Biden administration has left Yuma County residents exhausted and our resources depleted,” said Jonathan Lines, Yuma County Supervisor. “We’re tired of the lethal drugs and human smuggling entering our county. These containers are making a huge difference and will disrupt the cartels’ trafficking operations. Thank you, Governor Ducey, for prioritizing our county and protecting our families.”
“Crossing between points of entry is illegal,” said Tim Roemer, Arizona Department of Homeland Security Director and the state’s Chief Information Security Officer. “The cartels have been taking advantage of the gaps in the border wall to surge migrants and overwhelm law enforcement. In 11 days, Arizona has regained more operational control at the US Mexico border than Biden has in 20 months. Governor Ducey has shown great leadership in how to effectively and efficiently secure the border.”
The first 842-foot gap took 44 containers and four days to fill. The second took eight containers to fill 130 feet in half a day. Another four containers filled the third 75-foot gap, which took half a day. It took four days to fill a 1,200-foot gap with 60 containers. The last gap was 250 feet and was filled with 14 containers over three days.