Plans on Yuma border wall gap construction moving forward
Local leaders react to update from Arizona Senator Mark Kelly and the Department of Homeland Security - FOX 9's Adam Klepp reports
YUMA, Ariz. (KECY, KYMA) - Formal plans to fill in the Yuma Sector border wall gaps by the Morelos Dam are now in motion.
Arizona Senator Mark Kelly announced the Department of Homeland Security has authorized Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to move forward with plans to close gaps in the border wall locally.
Senator Kelly says the first contracts will be done by the end of September, and others will follow.
Actual construction will begin sometime after, but Kelly says he'll be pushing the Administration to make it happen as quickly as possible.
"This is a step forward and I’ll keep working to ensure that Arizona has the tools needed for a secure and orderly process at the border including fencing and barriers where they make sense,” Senator Kelly said.
This pin is at the approximate location of the main gap migrants cross through.
The Department of Homeland Security originally announced plans to complete sections of border wall in multiple border sectors in December of 2021.
The announcement came soon after Senator Kelly sent a letter to President Biden telling him to close the gaps.
Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls has publicly advocated for the gaps to be closed.
"I want to thank Senator Kelly for working with me and other community leaders by forcing action to close these gaps," Mayor Nicholls said.
County Supervisor Jonathan Lines has spoken to KYMA about the strain the border crisis has had on local resources.
“I am grateful to Senator Kelly for holding the Biden administration accountable to this commitment and finally getting this done," Lines said. "This will allow Border Patrol to be more efficient with the allocation of their men and women out on the front lines."
The gaps have caused problems for border security, as in June CBP released video of illegal immigrants running through the Morelos Dam gaps, and into a car on Somerton Avenue.
You can watch my full interview with Senator Mark Kelly on our Youtube page here.
