Container wall construction continues amid legal questions

FOX 9's Adam Klepp checked out construction as crews have been working for almost a week

YUMA, Ariz. (KECY, KYMA) - State shipping containers are stacked next to a federal steel barrier near the U.S. - Mexico Border

The project run by the state of Arizona is in a legal grey area as they’re building on federal land.

But the state says they’re just doing what the federal government is planning on doing, but is being too slow to act.

“Even the federal government has admitted the gaps need to be closed, we just believe the situation needs to be done immediately,” Arizona Department of Homeland Security Director Tim Roemer said.

But now with containers moving into place, there's potential that current construction could be a hindrance to the federal government putting in a permanent barrier.

Arizona Senator Mark Kelly has been pushing the Biden Administration to fill in the gaps and says plans are in place for construction to begin soon.

“The contractors are going to come out here, and look at what the work is, they’ll make their proposals, how they’re going to do this work and what it’s going to cost,” Kelly said.

Proposals now that likely will have to include how contractors plan to build around, or remove, tens of thousands of pounds of shipping containers.

Construction is slated to be completed by the end of the week.