OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Arizona has begun dismantling its makeshift border wall made of shipping containers that was celebrated by former Republican Gov. Doug Ducey but faced opposition from newly sworn-in Democrat Gov. Katie Hobbs. The shipping container “border wall” was also the target of a Biden administration lawsuit.
“Footage taken on Jan. 3 showed construction machinery removing a line of shipping containers placed along the U.S.–Mexico border in Yuma, Arizona, which coincided with the day Hobbs was sworn in as governor. Ducey, who in mid-December agreed to dismantle the wall for which he had once been an ardent advocate, ordered the disassembly of the makeshift barrier as one of his final acts in office,” the Epoch Times reported.
“He said earlier that the container wall was always meant to be a temporary construction intended to help stem the tide of illegal border crossings until a permanent solution could be found. Illegal immigration has soared under President Joe Biden’s watch, with unauthorized crossings topping 2.76 million in the fiscal year 2022, according to Customs and Border Protection data. That figure broke the previous record by over 1 million and was more than twice the highest level notched during the tenure of former President Donald Trump, who made stemming illegal immigration a key part of his platform,” the outlet added.
Hobbs, who was sworn in earlier his week, had been critical of Ducey’s border wall, labeling it as ineffective political grandstanding.
“It’s a political stunt. It’s a visual barrier that is not actually providing an effective barrier to entry, and I think a waste of taxpayer dollars,” she told Arizona radio station KJZZ in a recent interview. “The containers aren’t working. There are many pictures of people climbing over them.”
During a private ceremony earlier this week at the state Capitol, Hobbs formally took over from outgoing Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, who is leaving office because of term limits.
During the swearing-in ceremony, Hobbs burst out in laughter as 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Roopali Desai sought to administer the oath. Her mother was standing across from the governor and holding what appeared to be a Bible.
“Stop it, Mom!” Hobbs called out.
WATCH:
WATCH: Katie Hobbs literally bursts into snickering and outright laughter on-camera when swearing oath to the Constitution as Governor of Arizona.@KariLake @KariLakeWarRoom pic.twitter.com/UpoXSsocO2
— Patriot Alerts (@alerts___) January 3, 2023
The Associated Press reported the outburst was in response to her “mother’s joyous tears.”
Twitter users had mixed emotions about Hobbs’ behavior.
Arizona Republicans national committeeman Tyler Bowyer, tweeted, “So at best the family isn’t taking it seriously. At worst she is nervous about swearing allegiance to the state and country.”
So at best the family isn’t taking it seriously. At worst she is nervous about swearing allegiance to the state and country
— Tyler Bowyer (@tylerbowyer) January 2, 2023
Another Twitter user wrote, “Dark day for Arizona.”
Dark day for Arizona
— MysTerry Hot-Rocks (@MysTerryRocks) January 2, 2023
Still, another was a little more accepting of the behavior writing, “I might be a little giddy in that situation but I also think I could still act professionally while being sworn into office.”
I might be a little giddy in that situation but I also think I could still act professionally while being sworn into office.
— 🇮🇹Crash Missing MORE Pieces🇺🇸 (@Coach_Crash) January 2, 2023
Twitter user Luis Cruz tweeted, “That’s not what I see. It seems Katie and, what seems to be her mom, were getting sentimental and Katie asked her to stop. I’m not defending their campaign, but I also HATE fake news. From both sides.”
Republican Kari Lake filed two appeals on Wednesday related to a lawsuit challenging her loss in the Arizona gubernatorial race in November. Lake also filed a motion to have her lawsuit heard by the Arizona Supreme Court, which was denied.
“Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Peter Thompson ruled against Lake’s challenge after finding the court was not presented with clear and convincing evidence in the widespread misconduct, she alleged influenced the election results,” Fox News reported. “Lake, on Wednesday, filed an appeal with the Appeals Court on Judge Thompson’s ruling. She also filed a motion to send the appeal to the Arizona Supreme Court, asking to skip a step with the Appeals Court. Arizona’s Supreme Court denied the request to transfer the appeal.”
In its decision, the Arizona Supreme Court said, “no good cause appears to transfer the matter to this court.”
Lake provided an update on Wednesday night via Twitter: “My court case will be going before the Appeals Court prior to the Arizona Supreme Court because it’s already been scheduled for review. This decision was done without prejudice & I am confident the case will end up in their hands eventually. We’re moving forward.”
