The Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security was in Yuma along with local Border Patrol and elected officials to celebrate border wall construction success.
Acting Secretary Chad Wolf visited a section of border fencing west of Yuma on Jan. 10 where a plaque was installed with President Donald Trump’s name.
Wolf’s visit came two days after a federal appeals court ruled that Trump could use $3.6 billion in Defense Department money to build the wall along several sections of the U.S.-Mexico border. The acting secretary said it was a time to celebrate.
“Today, I’m proud to report that the Trump administration has now constructed 100 miles of new border wall system on the southern border," Wolf said. "This is a milestone achievement for the president, for the department and, more importantly, for our country, including communities like Yuma.”
Yuma Sector officials told KAWC that the 100 miles include about 24 miles of new border wall constructed here, including about 22 miles near San Luis and the rest along the Colorado River. The Yuma Sector is slated for another 31 mile project to begin soon along the Barry M. Goldwater bombing range
Wolf said Border Patrol officials have made it clear to him that a wall system is needed and it has been shown it works because apprehension numbers have decreased significantly in all sectors where fencing has gone up.
He was joined by U.S. Senator Martha McSally, Yuma Sector Chief Patrol Agent Anthony Porvaznik and Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls.
