Under ‘Big Beautiful Bill,’ Arizona Aims to Recover $196M Spent on Border Cargo Containers

In 2022, Arizona allocated $196 million to construct a border wall using approximately 2,200 stacked shipping containers. This substantial investment, which ultimately funded both the installation and removal of the barrier five months later, has garnered attention amid ongoing debates about border security funding.

On Thursday, House Republicans passed a bill authorizing $12 billion to reimburse states for border security expenses incurred during President Joe Biden’s administration. This legislation could enable Arizona to recoup some of the costs associated with the temporary barrier erected by former Governor Doug Ducey.

Leaders from various states, irrespective of party affiliation, have expressed frustration over the financial burden of border security, asserting that the Biden administration has not done enough to address the issue.

Governor Katie Hobbs, Ducey’s successor, recently sought $513 million from Biden to cover Arizona’s border security expenditures over the nearly three years since he assumed office.

The $12 billion package is part of a larger bill dubbed “One Big Beautiful Bill” by President Donald Trump and House Republicans. The bill narrowly passed with a vote of 215-214, receiving no support from Democrats.

The specifics regarding how the funds will be allocated among the states remain ambiguous, as the measure does not provide a defined formula, leaving that responsibility to the Department of Homeland Security.

States will be able to submit reimbursement requests for expenses dating back to January 21, 2021, the day following Biden’s inauguration. Texas, which has spent over $11 billion on border security, is expected to receive the largest share.

Ducey initiated the construction of the shipping container wall in August 2022 to fill gaps left by the wall established during Trump’s presidency, after Biden halted further construction. The operation involved a contractor stacking 40-foot containers in Yuma and Cochise counties, as well as near Nogales.

The project received national scrutiny when a journalist from Univision showcased a photo of improperly stacked containers shortly after Ducey claimed the area was secured. Additionally, the U.S. Departments of the Interior and Agriculture cautioned that Arizona was utilizing federal land without authorization, prompting the Justice Department to intervene.

In December 2022, just weeks before leaving office, Ducey agreed to dismantle the barrier and paid $2.1 million to the Forest Service for environmental remediation.

As of now, Hobbs’s office has not commented on the recent House bill or the potential for federal reimbursement.

Among Arizona’s House Republicans, there was support for the reimbursement proposal, although Rep. David Schweikert was absent during the vote held in the early hours following a rare overnight session.

The comprehensive bill, exceeding 1,000 pages, also includes provisions to extend Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, tighten work requirements for Medicaid, reduce food stamp spending, and allocate an additional $5 billion for border security and deportations.

In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott and other state leaders have consistently criticized Biden for inadequately securing the border. Shortly after Biden took office, Abbott launched Operation Lone Star, mobilizing state troopers and the National Guard, and fortifying the border with razor wire and buoy barriers.

House Republicans from Texas, particularly Rep. Chip Roy, emphasized the importance of the reimbursement clause in the new bill. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, praised the House action as a promising beginning, expressing that Texas has spent significant taxpayer funds to defend the southern border in the absence of federal support.