Governor Doug Ducey announced today that 3,820 feet of the previously open border near Yuma, Arizona, is now closed with a barrier of double-stacked and secured shipping containers.
“Following a historic investment in this year’s state budget, forged in partnership with legislative leaders, we’ve taken a major step forward to secure our border,” stated Ducey. “Five wide open gaps in the border wall near Yuma neighborhoods and businesses are now closed off. In just 11 days, Arizona did the job the federal government has failed to do — and we showed them just how quickly and efficiently the border can be made more secure – if you want to.”
🔹11 days
— Doug Ducey (@DougDucey) August 24, 2022
🔹5 gaps
🔹130 shipping containers
🔹3,820 linear feet
🔹48 workers
We did it. Yuma is safer today. pic.twitter.com/VXNHDnvbmS
The border mission was proposed by Governor Ducey in January during his State of the State address, where he stated, “Our southern border has never been more deadly or more dangerous. Meanwhile, the White House and Congress have decided to turn a blind eye. This is a national crisis – and it calls for leadership… Where Arizona can add physical barriers to the border, we will.”
The funding for the initiative was included in border security legislation signed into law by Governor Ducey on June 30. It took 48 workers from contractor Ashbritt to install the 8,800-pound shipping containers and 4,500 feet of concertina wire.
The fast-moving Yuma Border Barrier Mission was launched when Ducey issued an Executive Order on August 12. The last of the 130 shipping containers were installed on August 23.
“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,” Governor Ducey said. “Since then, illegal activity in Yuma and other border communities have skyrocketed. Arizona could not just stand by and allow this situation to continue.”
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.
“Our Border Barrier Mission is a win for Arizona, our communities, our farmers, and our law enforcement,” Governor Ducey said. “But the effort to secure our border is far from complete. Washington must act. Border security is a federal responsibility. They need to fix the border they’ve broken.”
Yuma communities, hospitals, nonprofits, food banks, and shelters have been at 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 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.
