|
Arizona Governor Doug Ducey's attempt to build a makeshift wall out of shipping containers on national public land came to an abrupt halt this week, leaving a trail of environmental destruction and traffic snarls in its wake. The about-face came as the federal government sued the state over Ducey's stunt, and after around 20 protesters started camping in front of the wall, which was located in the Coronado National Forest.
Ducey had said he planned to spend $95 million in taxpayer money to set up 3,000 shipping containers along the U.S.-Mexico border in Cochise County. Arizona Republic columnist EJ Montini noted that the area "is not a huge draw for illegal border crossers of the human variety, but it is vital to the comings and goings of several endangered species, including ocelots."
When Ducey's construction crew started transferring containers back to the state prison complex in Tucson, they dragged enough mud onto a state highway that the department of transportation had to close a lane to ensure drivers' safety.
With Ducey leaving office in two weeks, it appears he will leave an environmental mess behind on the border, and taxpayers are on the hook to clean up after him. The Biden administration's lawsuit seeks to dismantle Ducey's containers and bill the state for the cost.
|
That’s one of the things I would like to see. More Indigenous people in the green and gray sharing their own stories, managing their own parks, fighting and working for their people, for these sacred places.”
