Photo: John Moore/Getty Images
He border “wall” built with freight containers to stop the passage of undocumented immigrants by former Republican Governor Doug Ducey in Arizonawhich was torn down in December under pressure from the Biden administration, has so far cost Arizonans more than $194 million, according to state financial records, cited by azcentral.
But now, the government of that state, under Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs, has arranged for the sale of some 2,000 containers of those that were used in 2022 as a temporary border wall with Mexico, to recover at least part of the millions of dollars that were invested in the controversial project that was eliminated for legal and environmental reasons.
Even if the state manages to sell all the containers, it will only be able to recover a minimum part of the millionaire cost of the project, also taking into account the expense of another $200 million dollars in the transportation, installation and removal of these metallic pieces.
According to the Department of Emergency and Military Affairs, in charge of purchasing the containers, a total of close to $14 million dollars was paid for all of them. Assuming they were all sold, the state would recover no more than $4 million.
The containers were removed last January after President Joe Biden’s administration sued the state of Arizona for “trespass” on federal land.
According to the Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA), a little more than 2,000 metal containers are for sale that “were recently removed from the border between Arizona and Mexico.”
Ducey ordered in August 2022 to place a barrier with the containers in areas where there are gaps in the construction of the border wall in Arizona.
Those who buy the containers, which are being stored at a state jail in Tucson, will have to pay for their transportation.
For sale are containers 20 feet (6 meters) long for $500 and $1,000, and 40 feet (12 meters) for $2,000 and $1,500.
“These containers have seen a lot of use and will possibly have dings and cracks. All containers have operable doors, roof and floor,” the state government said.
At the moment the containers can only be purchased by other state agencies and non-profit organizations and the rest will go on sale to the general public starting in October.
With information from EFE
Keep reading:
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– Department of Justice sues Arizona for placing cargo containers at the border
– Arizona must remove container wall from border, federal government demands