US Arizona to Remove Container Barrier Built at Mexico Border

Biden Administration and Republican Governors in Legal Battle Over Temporary Barriers
Environmental Groups Criticize Harshly Over Soil Pollution and Ecosystem Destruction

Construction Site of the US-Mexico Border Wall [Image Source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Junran] The state of Arizona in the United States has agreed with the federal government to soon dismantle the container barrier installed along the Mexico border area, CNN reported on the 22nd (local time).

According to the local court, on the 18th, the state government decided to remove all containers built as temporary barriers along the border area, as well as various materials, equipment, and vehicles, by January 4th of next year.

So far, the Biden administration and Doug Ducey, the Republican governor of Arizona, have been engaged in a legal battle over the container barrier occupying the Coronado National Forest.

Earlier, Governor Ducey installed a barrier made of 130 containers stacked 5 to 7 meters high in the southwestern city of Yuma in August, aiming to fill gaps along the Mexico border to block the influx of immigrants. Recently, he also announced plans to extend this barrier to 16 km.

However, the Coronado National Forest, where the containers were installed, is a federally managed area, not under Arizona state jurisdiction. Based on this, the U.S. Federal Department of Homeland Security sent a letter demanding the removal of the containers to Governor Ducey and even filed a lawsuit.

Additionally, the Coronado National Forest is the only national forest that spans the border area. Environmental groups strongly criticized that the old and rusty containers would contaminate the soil and restrict the activities of local wildlife, thereby destroying the ecosystem.

According to this agreement, the state government will dismantle the already constructed barrier around Yuma and also halt any further barrier installations in the Coronado National Forest. The dismantling work is planned to be carried out by January 4th in a way that does not damage nature.

The state authorities will consult with representatives from the federal Forest Service for this purpose. The federal government also plans to carry out work to fill gaps in the legally installed existing border barriers.

An Arizona state spokesperson stated, "For over a year, the federal government only talked about building border barriers, but only started to act after the border security situation became serious. Although it is a bit late, it is fortunate that they decided to proceed."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.