Katie Hobbs says container wall at border gaps not best use of Arizona resources

PHOENIX – Democratic candidate for Arizona governor Katie Hobbs said state resources at the southern border would be better used on measures that weren’t “political stunts,” referring to shipping containers put in place at wall gaps.

“I want to use our state’s resources not for things that are political stunts but that will actually solve the problems,” Hobbs said in an interview that aired Sunday on AZTV7.

“I am very concerned about the liability to the state of Arizona for those shipping containers that they’re putting on federal land. There’s pictures of people climbing on top of them. I think that’s a huge liability and risk.”

Gov. Doug Ducey issued an executive order Aug. 12 to double-stack the containers to fill border gaps near Yuma. Construction on the 1,000 feet of gaps was funded with $6 million from the fiscal year 2023 state budget.

Ducey said the state couldn’t wait any longer on solutions from the Biden administration, which had previously approved filling the gaps but hadn’t yet acted.

“I don’t think setting up an adversarial relationship, whether you like the president or not, is helpful to actually addressing the needs of Arizonans,” Hobbs said.

Hobbs added working together was required to get necessary resources. She said she’s spoken with local law enforcement leaders in border communities about their needs.

“They want more intelligence, they want support in terms of technology and staff so that they can keep their community safe,” she said.

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