Kari Lake expects Arizona shipping container lawsuit to go to Supreme Court

PHOENIX – Republican gubernatorial hopeful Kari Lake said she is prepared to continue Arizona’s legal challenge defending the use of shipping containers at the border all the way to nation’s highest court.

“This will go to the Supreme Court and we will win this battle,” Lake said Sunday during an AZTV7 political event that was scheduled as a debate with Democratic candidate Katie Hobbs, who declined to appear.

“We have the right as a state, we are sovereign, to protect our border. And we intend to do it and we are ready for the legal fight,” Lake told moderator KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Mike Broomhead.

Gov. Doug Ducey filed a lawsuit in federal court last Friday defending the state’s use of shipping containers to close gaps in the southern border barrier.

The suit seeks to affirm Arizona’s right to defend itself after the federal government said the containers were illegally placed and need to be removed.

The Democrats “will try to tie us up in court. And guess what? We’re ready for it,” Lake said.

More than 3,800 feet of border gaps were closed with double-stacked shipping over the summer, with state officials saying it was to deter migrants from crossing.

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation told Arizona officials two weeks ago that the containers were unauthorized and violated U.S. law.

The bureau also demanded that no new containers be placed, saying it wanted to prevent conflicts with two federal contracts already awarded and two more still pending to fill border wall gaps near the Morelos Dam in the Yuma area.

Lake reiterated Ducey’s comments that the containers were helping to keep the state safe.

Early voting for the Nov. 8 general election is underway.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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