We Build the Wall constructed gate to be locked by federal agency due to security concerns

SUNLAND PARK, NM (CBS4) — The U.S. Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission released a statement Tuesday about the border fence built by We Build the Wall in Sunland Park, New Mexico.

The USIBWC said they will lock the privately owned gate effective immediately due to security concerns.

The USIBWC said they are continuing to work with We Build the Wall regarding its permit request. Until then, the private gate was in a locked open position.

The USIBWC said in its statement that a private gate was built on federal land by We Build the Wall without authority and was locked closed on June 6.

The gate blocks a levee road owned by the U.S. government and the USIBWC said that after repeated requests to unlock and open the gate, it removed the private lock, opened the gate and locked it in the open position pending further discussions with We Build the Wall. USIBWC said it was accompanied by two uniformed law enforcement officers from the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office.

The USIBWC addressed recent remarks by We Build the Wall in its statement below:

“The USIBWC did not authorize the construction of the private gate on federal property as announced on We Build the Wall’s Twitter page. The USIBWC is not charged with securing other fences or gates as reported by We Build the Wall. The international border fences are not on USIBWC property. The USIBWC did not open any other gates in the El Paso area as erroneously reported. Other gates and the border fence are controlled by other federal agencies.”

The USIBWC said We Build the Wall submitted an incomplete application permit to the agency on June 2, to which it responded on June 6 with questions and requests for additional information.

The president of We Build The Wall, Brian Kolfauge said there was miscommunication between the group and IBWC. He said the commission spoke with a person that was not affiliated with We Build The Wall.

“It is right next to our fenced in area of the gate and where the I’ll call it unpermitted gate is, it’s funneling immigrants into the dam and we have infrastructure that’s expensive and very sensitive," said Lori Kuczmanski with IBWC.

"We got pictures of the gates being left open and these gates are being utilized by the cartels when these gates should be sealed up," said Kolfage.

The USIBWC says it has not received a response from We Build the Wall regarding its June 6 response.

“The USIBWC is concerned about the safety and security of our employees and the infrastructure at the American Dam, which is next to the privately-constructed gate. Despite USIBWC requests to locate the gate further from American Dam, the private gate was constructed in a way that may channel undocumented immigrants into the American Dam area. When the proper documentation is received for the permit, USIBWC will continue to process the permit application,” the USIBWC said in its statement.

While the gate was open, the Guardian Patriots, an armed militia group, kept some of its members in the area.

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