CBP is ready to fill the gap between the two with a steel barrier, but doesn’t say the box will get in the way.

YUMA, Arizona (KECY, KYMA) – Arizona has been asked to remove more than 120 shipping containers that were installed to fill gaps in Yuma’s walls in August.

The federal government said the state trespassed and violated federal law by constructing buildings on land owned by the Reclamation Service.

In its letter, the Department of the Interior argued that the containers were “trespassing upon the United States,” “damaging federal land,” and “impeding the ability of settlers to carry out their mission.”

Before containers, thousands of migrants crossed it every month.

The majority yielded to border agents and sought asylum, a right granted to them under U.S. immigration law, even though they entered the country illegally.

Others, however, tried to escape detection by getting past them and jumping into a waiting car on Somerton Avenue.

The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office said the containers helped control the flow of migrants near the dam.

“Our agents have noticed a slowdown in traffic,” said Tania Pavlak.

County Supervisor Jonathan Lines has supported both federal and state efforts to close the gap.

But this letter says it sends the wrong message.

“What about trespassing on a farmer’s field?” Lines said.

He added that the containers help border guards and keep communities safe.

“The number of known escapees is down. We used to have 3,000, now we have 1,000, so it’s a big reduction,” Lines said.

The letter says that US Customs and Border Protection has awarded a contract to complete two gaps in Yuma’s wall with conventional steel barriers.

“We are reviewing the letter,” a spokesperson for Gov. Doug Ducey said when asked for comment on the request to remove the shipping containers.

The Reclamation Service contact listed in the letter has not responded to a request for comment to further explain how the containers are damaging federal land and hindering reclamation missions.