Authorities welded open 114 large gates along the Arizona border to allow water to flow during the monsoon season and for wildlife migration. As a result, thousands of migrants have been walking through these open floodgates into the US, especially in a 36-mile stretch of the Arizona border with Mexico. This has led to record numbers of migrant crossings, with images and videos showing both migrants and smugglers taking advantage of the open gates. The Tucson sector has seen particularly high numbers of apprehensions due to this situation.
More Details
- The gates were welded open in summer 2023, near Lukeville, Arizona, to allow water flow during the monsoon season and for the migration of an endangered antelope species.
- The monsoon season started late, so the gates remained open for weeks before any rain, providing a dry path for migrants.
- Smugglers quickly exploited the situation, driving busloads of migrants to the border, where they simply walked through the open gates. Many migrants turned themselves in to border agents and requested asylum.
- In July 2023 alone, over 42,000 migrants crossed into Arizona through these gates, making the Tucson sector the busiest illegal entry point in the US.
- The gates are 12 feet wide, large enough for motorcycles to pass through, and were welded open with metal pins.
- Border Patrol agents reported being overwhelmed and unable to stop the flow, with some agents blocking gates with ATVs but being rushed by large groups.
- The decision to open the gates involved several federal agencies, including the National Park Service and the International Boundary and Water Commission.
- Migrants crossing in this area came from all over the world, including India, Egypt, and China, not just Central and South America.
- Local officials and Border Patrol unions criticized the move, saying it stretched resources and made border communities less secure.
Why Were the 114 Gates Welded Open?
The 114 gates along the Arizona border were welded open primarily to prevent flood damage during the summer monsoon season, which runs from mid-June to the end of September. This practice began under the Trump administration because the border wall’s design can accumulate debris and is vulnerable to being knocked over by floodwaters if the gates are not opened. The gates are also left open to allow for wildlife migration, including endangered species such as the Sonoran pronghorn, as part of a federal court settlement. The decision is not arbitrary or intended to facilitate illegal crossings, but rather to protect the structural integrity of the wall and comply with environmental and legal requirements. The gates can be closed temporarily if needed for border security operations.
Sources for the Real Reason
- PolitiFact: Why are some border gates open in Arizona? (2023)
- National Weather Service: Northern Arizona Monsoon Season
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Sonoran pronghorn (Antilocapra americana sonoriensis)
- The Washington Post: Trump’s border wall, vulnerable to flash floods, needs large storm gates left open for months (2020)
- ACLU: Border Wall Settlement Agreement (2023)
- New York Post: Open floodgates at Arizona border allow thousands of migrants to walk into the country
- Marca: Thousands of migrants enter the US as floodgates open wide at Arizona border
- POLITICO: Border Crisis – Latest News, Top Stories & Analysis
- Black Dot Research: Did the Biden administration weld open Trump’s border wall to let migrants through?
- Tucson.com: Gates were welded shut on border wall across San Pedro River; feds fix the problem
- Pew Research Center: Migrant encounters at U.S.-Mexico border have fallen sharply in 2024