Ducey says Arizona containers will be removed

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - New in the last hour, Governor Doug Ducey says he will remove the shipping containers in Yuma's wall gaps.

The decision comes after the Department of Justice sued the Ducey Administration for placing the containers on federally owned land.

According to filings in court, the containers will be removed by January 4, 2023.

The documents also say Customs and Border Protection will put in their own barrier to replace the containers.

The first containers were placed in Yuma in August as local Republicans as well as farmers generally supported the move.

Governor-elect Katie Hobbs called the containers a political stunt in a pre-election interview with News 11.

Local Supervisor Jonathan Lines says he hopes the containers are replaced by the traditional border wall which is laying on the ground just a few hundred feet from the gaps.

"We're hoping they take that equipment and put it in place of the boxes where they are coming down. I've been on the border almost every day. Our numbers are surging," said Yuma County Supervisor Jonathan Lines.

According to previous documents obtained by KYMA, the federal government asked the state to remove the containers back in October so they could install a temporary mesh fence.

You can read the court document at this LINK or right below.