On Thursday, Arizona State Representative Tim Dunn reiterated his “strong support” for Governor Ducey’s deployment of cargo shipping containers along several border gaps in the Yuma area.
Dunn, who says his community has been negatively impacted by the “broken” border, urged Ducey to continue the strategy despite demands from the Biden administration to remove containers that have been placed by the state to date.
On August 12, Ducey issued an executive order authorizing the Arizona Department of Military Affairs to initiate operations to erect a barrier to close the gaps in the Southern Border wall. The Yuma Border Barrier was completed August 23 and consists of 130 double-stacked shipping containers which are reinforced with 4 feet of razor wire at the top. The shipping containers are 9 by 40 feet and weigh 8,800 pounds.
Last week, the Department of Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation wrote to Ducey, arguing that the barrier was illegal.
“The unauthorized placement of those containers constitutes a violation of federal law and is a trespass against the United States. That trespass is harming federal lands and resources and impeding Reclamation’s ability to perform its mission,” the letter read, according to 12News.
“The Biden administration has made it clear that they have no interest in protecting America’s borders,” said Dunn in a press release. “The same goes for Democrats who control Congress. Border states and communities are left open and undefended against the relentless flow of illegal immigration, human trafficking, and dangerous narcotics because of the federal government’s refusal to secure the border. As a result, it’s up to Arizona to do everything possible to protect our communities. And we have.”
“The Legislature appropriated more than $560 million for border security assistance in the recent state budget. And Governor Ducey has shown great leadership, installing barriers made of shipping containers to effectively close several border gaps in the Yuma area,” continued Dunn. “These barriers have succeeded in stopping the illegal traffic and trespassing through produce fields which would damage land and threaten crops that Americans rely upon.
“Now, the Biden administration is demanding that Arizona remove those barriers. I don’t think we should, and I hope Governor Ducey holds fast. Moreover, I encourage the Governor to keep up the work he’s begun and close additional gaps where possible with the defensive placement of shipping containers or by other means appropriate to improve safety and security along the border.”
Dunn has been an outspoken critic of the failed open border policies the Biden/Harris administration. Earlier this year he sent a letter urging immediate federal action and resources to help border communities. The request was ignored, and the Yuma Sector continues to be overrun by illegal activity.