Name: Arizona Gov. Agrees to Dismantle Border Wall After Biden Admin Lawsuit
Uploaded: 2025-01-04T21:17:42.000Z
Description: Arizona's outgoing Republican Gov. Doug Ducey has agreed to dismantle a makeshift border wall constructed out of shipping containers in response to a lawsuit from the Biden administration.

Stefania Cox is an NTD News anchor and national correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Stefania anchors "NTD Newsroom," and co-anchors "NTD News Today" weekdays at 10:00 am ET.

Stefania Cox

NTD Plus

News

We present news that is truthful and based on facts, outside of the political fog. Instead of focusing on the negative things happening around us, our mission is to give our viewers a good morning with empathetic and uplifting stories. Our aim is to provide an antidote to negativity by shining a light on the best side of people. We speak to inspiring people who positively impact communities, pursue topics that represent our common human values, and will never miss an opportunity to bring you heartwarming stories.

NTD Good Morning

Start Some Schooltime Routines Now, as Consistency Builds Security: Expert

Cary Dunst is the news anchor for NTD Evening News. He is also the co-host of NTD Good Morning.


Cary Dunst

Next Interview With Investigation Subcommittee Could Get More Answers From Fauci: Analyst

NTD Newsroom comprises teams of reporters, editors, and producers assigned to cover breaking news and other stories.


NTD Newsroom

NASA to Send New Telescope Deep Into Space to Conduct Largest Cosmic Surveys Yet

Real-Life Spider-Man Invited to Hollywood Premiere After Act of Kindness Goes Viral

Japan Earthquake Survivors Battle Thirst, Heat as Death Toll Rises to 30

Daniel Monaghan is a reporter for NTD News covering culture, social issues, and education. He holds a BA in Political Science and Government.

Daniel Monaghan

Sen. Lindsey Graham Celebrated at Funeral Service in Home State of South Carolina

Republican States Ask Supreme Court to Restore Trump’s Election Integrity Order

8 Dead, Including Children, After Russian Airstrikes Hit Ukraine, Local Officials Say

Reuters is a news agency owned by Thomson Reuters. It employs around 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists in about 200 locations worldwide writing in 16 languages.

Reuters

World News

Asia &amp; Pacific

Rescuers Search for Survivors After a Quake Kills 18 in Southwestern Japan

US News

USDA to Fund Arizona Facility to Fight Flesh-Eating Livestock Pest

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (July 31)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (July 30)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (July 29)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (July 28)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (July 27)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (July 24)

Paul Greaney is an NTD news anchor and producer. Since joining the company in 2018, he has anchored the station’s flagship Evening News broadcast, launched the NTD Business show, and produced documentary reports on pointed issues. 

The highlight of Paul’s time in the field was his coverage of the Hong Kong pro-democracy protests in 2019.

Paul Greaney

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (July 23)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (July 22)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (July 21)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (July 20)

Tom Gantert is a reporter for The Epoch Times.

Tom Gantert

Melina Wisecup is NTD's congressional correspondent based in Washington, covering Capitol Hill and campaign politics.

Melina Wisecup

Politics

Executive Branch

Trump Uses Recent Speeches to Warn Americans of Resurging Communism

Juliet Song is an international correspondent exclusively covering China news for NTD. She primarily contributes to NTD's "China in Focus," covering U.S.-China relations, the Chinese regime's human rights abuses, and domestic unrest inside China.

Juliet Song

Shows

Fast, compelling, first-hand news from China. China in Focus airs Monday–Friday at 9:30 p.m. ET.

China in Focus

2.8 Million People in China Evacuated Amid Typhoon Bavi

Breaking news and in-depth analysis from the United States and beyond. We bring you the latest updates, exclusive insights, and sharp discussions on the most pressing issues. NTD Newsroom airs Monday–Friday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET.

US Announces Visa Restrictions Targeting Cybercriminals

NTD Movies

NTD+ Movies

The Unrestricted War

Joseph Lord is a congressional reporter for The Epoch Times.


Joseph Lord

Congress

House Passes Legislation to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent

Troy Myers is a regional reporter based in St. Augustine, Florida. His background includes breaking, criminal justice, and investigative writing for local news, producing on a national morning newscast in Washington, D.C., and working with an award-winning, weekly investigative news program. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his dog at the beach.

Troy Myers

Jason Perry is an Army veteran and NTD's national security correspondent. Jason primarily covers border security, national defense, foreign wars, and veterans' issues.

Jason Perry

Courts

Appeals Court Upholds Block on Trump Order to Tighten Mail-In Voting, Citizenship Verification

The Associated Press is an American not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. 

The Associated Press

Sen. Lindsey Graham Likely Died After Aorta Tear, Medical Examiner Says

Bringing you the latest videos, livestreams, and premieres.


NTD Videos

Label

Live

NTD+ Live

Trump Makes an Announcement on Freedom Hauler in the White House

Mary Man is a writer for NTD. She has traveled around the world covering China, international news, and arts and culture.

Mary Man

China News

China Floods: Thousands at Risk After Multiple Dams Collapse in Guangxi

Jackson Richman is a Washington correspondent for The Epoch Times. In addition to Washington politics, he covers the intersection of politics and sports/sports and culture. He previously was a writer at Mediaite and Washington correspondent at Jewish News Syndicate. His writing has also appeared in The Washington Examiner. He is an alum of George Washington University.

Jackson Richman

House Passes Defense Policy Bill That Attaches SAVE America Act

Arizona's outgoing Republican Gov. Doug Ducey has agreed to dismantle a makeshift border wall constructed out of shipping containers in response to a lawsuit from the Biden administration.

Court documents filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona (<a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23492740/az-container-stipulation.pdf">pdf</a>) on Dec. 21 show that Ducey's administration has agreed to dismantle the barrier.

The document indicates that the two sides entered into the agreement "to avoid the United States moving for an immediate temporary restraining order and/or preliminary injunction."

Under the agreement, Arizona has pledged not to erect any more containers and remove all of the ones previously installed "to the extent feasible" and so as not to cause damage to U.S. lands, properties, and natural resources by Jan. 4. That's one day before Democrat Governor-elect Katie Hobbs is poised to be sworn in.

Hobbs has <a href="https://kjzz.org/content/1831920/gov-elect-hobbs-says-she-will-stop-construction-shipping-container-wall-border">been critical</a> of Ducey's wall, calling it ineffective and a political stunt.

Ducey's office did not immediately return a request for comment.

But a spokesperson for Ducey <a href="https://theweek.com/the-wall/1019554/arizonas-outgoing-governor-agrees-to-take-down-his-shipping-container-border-wall">told The Week</a> that the governor has agreed to remove the 125 or so containers because he believes the Biden administration will put up a permanent barrier in gaps near Yuma, Arizona's busiest illegal border crossing.

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey speaks during a bill signing in Phoenix on April 15, 2021. (Ross D. Franklin/AP Photo)


<h2>'Arizona Has Had Enough'</h2>
Ducey's office said earlier that the makeshift wall was supposed to be a temporary construction meant to help stem the tide of illegal border-crossings until a permanent solution could be found.

Illegal immigration has soared under President Joe Biden's watch, with unauthorized crossings topping 2.76 million in fiscal year 2022, which ended Sept. 30, according to <a href="https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/southwest-land-border-encounters">Customs and Border Protection data</a>.

The eye-watering number broke the previous record of illegal crossings by over 1 million and was more than twice the highest level notched during the tenure of former President Donald Trump, who made stemming the influx a major part of his policy platform.

Ducey, an outspoken critic of Biden's border policies that he has blamed for the surge in illegal immigration, in August issued an order to plug gaps in the U.S.-Mexico border wall near Yuma, saying at the time that, "Arizona has had enough."

“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,” Ducey <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/arizona-has-had-enough-starts-stacking-shipping-containers-in-border-wall-gaps_4661360.html">said in a press release</a> at the time.

Work crews subsequently erected hundreds of double-stacked shipping containers topped by razor wire.

Yuma County Sheriff’s Office deputies have said that the containers have helped prevent illegal immigrants from crossing into the United States.

“Our deputies have noticed traffic is slowing down,” one of them <a href="https://kyma.com/news/top-stories/2022/10/17/federal-government-asks-arizona-to-remove-shipping-containers-in-yuma-border-wall-gaps/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told KYMA-TV</a>.

But the makeshift border wall prompted first a warning from the Biden administration and then a lawsuit.

A row of double staked shipping containers abruptly ends at the start of a steep wash along the border between the United States and Mexico in San Rafael Valley, Ariz., on Dec. 8, 2022. (Ross D. Franklin/AP Photo)


<h2>Lawsuit</h2>
Biden administration officials <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/biden-administration-tells-arizona-using-shipping-containers-to-plug-gaps-in-border-wall-is-illegal_4804102.html">warned Arizona officials</a> in October that Ducey's actions were in violation of federal law, including a law that restricts public conduct on lands overseen by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

Later, the Biden administration sued Arizona for allegedly placing the containers on federal lands without permission, with the U.S. Department of Justice filing a complaint (<a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23460818/doj-lawsuit-against-arizona.pdf">pdf</a>) on Dec. 14.

The lawsuit alleged that Ducey's border wall shipping containers "damage federal lands, threaten public safety, and impede the ability of federal agencies and officials, including law enforcement personnel, to perform their official duties."

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced in July that it had authorized the filling of gaps in the border wall near Yuma, which has become one of the busiest corridors for illegal crossings in the country.

While Biden pledged in his campaign to cease any future border wall construction, which was a signature project of his predecessor, DHS said in a statement that Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas authorized the completion of the project near the Morelos Dam, reflecting the administration’s “priority to deploy modern, effective border measures and also improving safety and security along the Southwest Border.”

Ducey spokesman C.J. Karamargin told news outlets recently that the shipping containers "were always a temporary solution to an ongoing problem.”

“From our perspective, the shipping container mission is a success. Not only have we plugged gaps in the border barrier, but we got the federal government to do their job,” he said, referring to the DHS decision to fill gaps in the border wall.

<em>From <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/arizona-gov-agrees-to-dismantle-border-wall-after-biden-admin-lawsuit_4940034.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Epoch Times</a></em>

wall

arizona

04_Top Stories

container

Immigration &amp; Border Security

Latest Clips

Tom Ozimek is a senior reporter for The Epoch Times. He has a broad background in journalism, deposit insurance, marketing and communications, and adult education.

Tom Ozimek

Latest and breaking news, documentaries, movies, and lifestyle content on NTD+.
 
Empower your knowledge and elevate your spirit with NTD+, your go-to destination for truthful news, insightful documentaries, and captivating lifestyle content that enriches your life.

Arizona Gov. Agrees to Dismantle Border Wall After Biden Admin Lawsuit

News with integrity, from the United States and around the world. Focused reports and analyses that shed light on major issues the world deserves to know. NTD Evening News airs daily at 6 p.m. ET.

NTD Evening News

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (July 30)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (July 29)

News you can trust from the U.S. and around the world. Critical information and insight. We cover the stories that others don’t. NTD News Today airs Monday–Friday at 11 a.m. ET.

NTD News Today

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (July 29)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (July 28)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (July 28)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (July 27)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (July 27)

Chris Beers is an NTD News anchor and political correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Chris co-anchors "NTD News Today" weekdays at 10:00 am ET.