Ducey, Yuma mayor pleased with border barrier, hopeful it continues to funnel migrants

PHOENIX — Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey and Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls are pleased with the functionality of a new border barrier they hope will continue to funnel migrants into select areas.

Ducey on Thursday traveled to Yuma to visit with Nicholls and other leaders, touring the 130 double-stacked shipping containers that were installed near the Morelos Dam in the last month.

“It gives Border Patrol more of a single point, if you will, to engage people as they cross the border,” Nicholls told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Gaydos and Chad on Thursday.

Ducey said he has confidence in the border barrier, but noted it isn’t a permanent solution.

He’s hopeful the nearly three-quarters of a mile of filled gaps are just the start of closing more of the border.

“These containers have helped make it harder to get into our state illegally,” Ducey said in a press release.

There have been issues since construction on the barrier started Aug. 11.

Within a week, a portion of the wall was knocked over.

Ducey’s office said the toppled shipping containers were caused by humans. They believed it was cartel related.

On Aug. 24, video surfaced of a migrant sitting on top of one of the double-stacked containers.

Nicholls said that the barrier has made his city safer, but the Cocopah Indian Tribe said Sept. 2 that the state acted against its wishes by stacking the containers on its land.

“Every foot of fence and barrier that is put in place gets us closer and closer to a closed border,” Nicholls said.

Follow @DannyShapiro13