Using shipping containers to plug gaps in the U.S.–Mexico border wall violates federal law, a Biden administration official told top Arizona officials in a recent letter.
“The unauthorized placement of those containers constitutes a violation of federal law and is a trespass against the United States,” Jacklynn Gould, a regional director for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, told Arizona Homeland Security Director Tim Roemer and Arizona Division of Emergency Management Director Allen Clark in the missive. “That trespass is harming federal lands and resources and impeding Reclamation’s ability to perform its mission.”
She asked officials to not place any additional shipping containers on federal lands or lands within the boundaries of Indian reservations, and said federal officials want to “discuss a way forward and requests your cooperation in the removal of the containers.”
Roemer, Clark, and Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey did not respond to requests for comment.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection awarded a contract to close two gaps in the border barrier, according to the letter.
Some 122 containers were placed along the border in Yuma County, including 80 on bureau lands and 42 on Cocopah Indian Tribe lands, according to federal authorities.
“Arizona has had enough,” Ducey said at the time. “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.”
Yuma County Sheriff’s Office deputies said that the containers have helped prevent illegal immigrants from crossing into the United States.
Jonathan Lines, the county’s supervisor, said that the number of gotaways—illegal immigrants who evaded capture—has been driven down due to the containers.
Customs and Border Protection’s Yuma Sector has recorded a sharp increase in illegal immigration since President Joe Biden took office, along with a number of other sectors. Illegal immigration has exploded under Biden, setting new records for fiscal and calendar year apprehensions. The number of gotaways has also jumped.
The Cocopah Indian Tribe issued a statement in support of the Biden administration’s action.
“We believe the Bureau is taking the necessary and appropriate action to resolve this issue,” the tribe said. “Beyond that, we will continue working side-by-side with local, state and federal law enforcement on securing the border.”
