Santa Cruz County Sheriff David Hathaway has warned Arizona Governor Doug Ducey’s office that is he tries to leave shipping containers laying about his jurisdiction, as he has done in neighboring Cochise County, that somebody is going to jail.
“As a contractor hired by Gov. Doug Ducey continues to stack shipping containers along the U.S.- Mexico border in Cochise County, moving westward into the San Rafael Valley, Sheriff David Hathaway said he’s ready to make a stand at the Santa Cruz County line.
If anyone tries to put the containers in his jurisdiction, Hathaway told the NI on Thursday, they’ll be arrested for illegal dumping.
“I’m just going to make sure they don’t enter our county,” he said.“
As the article points out, although the “gaps” in the border fence that Ducey purports to be concerned about have been there since before President Biden took office nearly two years ago, efforts to close them only began in August of this year, coincidentally just in time to make the news coverage prior to the midterm election.
But Sheriff Hathaway, who is a Democrat and who supported Governor-elect Katie Hobbs, is not impressed with Ducey’s election year stunt – unlike his Republican counterpart in neighboring Cochise county, Mark Dannels, who has toed the party line and praised the effort:
“We’re grateful for Gov. Ducey’s bold actions to protect Arizona and its citizens,” he said in October.
And why did the Governor deem his “bold actions” could wait until three months before the election to commence, Dannels?
For their part, the Fed Guv is none to happy with Ducey’s bold actions either…
“The Forest Service has informed the state that the presence of the containers is unlawful,” the statement added.
And in October, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation warned against the shipping container project, calling it “a violation of federal law.”
…but, in my opinion, we’re mindful of the politics at play in an election year, and not as forceful in their objections as Sheriff Hathaway has been.
The locals are none to happy with the driving habits of the container carriers either, whom seem to be in a bit of a hurry while crossing through Santa Cruz County to make their drop-offs:
“In the rural community of Elgin, there’s a one-lane bridge that requires traffic to travel carefully and slowly, according to resident Sue Downing. And for the past month, she’s noticed trucks traveling through the area – quickly – carrying the hulking shipping containers.
“They certainly are not careful driving,” she said.
While Ducey’s barrier project has raised questions about immigration policy and federal law, Downing said she and other residents had concerns about the public safety impacts of the fast-moving vehicles. In the area, Downing pointed out, there’s a bus stop for local children.“
Hathaway has instructed his deputies to watch for speeders as well as dumpers.
With the election now in the rear view it will be interesting to see if Ducey continues this stupidity or whether it will fall to Katie Hobbs to put a stop to it.
At least we won’t have to worry about Kari Lake ordering a bayonet line of National Guardsmen, with mortars as back-up, in place…
Katie is going to have her work cut out for her, cleaning up the mess that Ducey is making.
Why is the DOJ not putting a stop to all this crap. They should send out the FBI and the Marshals to start arresting fascist Governors. FL, AZ and TX. Only the Federal government has authority over foreign policy and immigration policy.
Even if this “wall” of containers continued to be built, it would not stop any determined effort to cross the border. lt may not blow over as easily as Traitor Tot’s “wall”, but it can be gotten over, under, around or through just as easily.
I can see it now. Desperate people will find a way to cut through the containers and move through them, or even move into them. What an ugly, stupid way to deal with immigration problems.
give it six months and those shipping containers will look like swiss cheese. some nice shelters will be built on the other side. maybe some new roofs. just like all that razor wire that dump had installed ended up in Mexico.
Well the environmental part is offer the top. They ship all sorts of dangerous chemicals in those. On top of that I was never in one that didn’t have oil whatsoever soaked floors. And the company I worked for bought materials from China all the time. They even had their own factory so I’ve seen a few. I wish I could get one for a workshop but the other half hates them. Go figure. Anyway, I stand with the Sheriff. Like what the hell you think your doing. Of course can’t wait till they start camping in these nice connivient houses.