Biden Asserts Necessity of Utilizing Trump-Era Border Wall Funds; Rejects Effectiveness of Wall Barriers

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President Joe Biden offered a defense on Thursday for his administration’s authorization of the waiving of 26 federal statutes in South Texas, facilitating the construction of approximately 20 additional miles of border wall. The President stated that the allocation of funds during the Trump administration for this purpose left him with no alternative but to proceed with the barrier aimed at curtailing illegal immigration from Mexico.

When queried about his views on the efficacy of such barriers, President Biden unambiguously stated, “No.”

The announcement for the new construction came in June; however, the monetary allocation for the project was made in 2019, preceding Biden’s term in office. The President indicated that he attempted to have the funds repurposed through legislative channels, but Congress declined to do so. Existing law mandates that the allocated funds must be expended as initially intended, and the construction is slated for completion in 2023.

“Congress earmarked the money for the border wall. I have no authority to override that,” said Biden.

Nevertheless, the suspension of federal laws for the construction, a move also undertaken during the tenure of Republican President Donald Trump, has raised eyebrows, especially considering Biden’s earlier critique of border wall expenditures during his presidential campaign. One of his initial actions as President was to cease the deployment of emergency funds for the wall construction along the Southern border and terminate the associated national emergency declaration.

The decision arrives amid the Biden administration’s struggle to handle a rising tide of migrants at the border and within larger U.S. cities. Democratic leaders from New York, Chicago, and Washington are seeking federal assistance to manage the swelling migrant populations in their jurisdictions. On Thursday, administration officials announced the resumption of deportations to Venezuela as a measure to mitigate new arrivals.

The Republican party, conversely, criticizes President Biden for his perceived ineffectiveness in border policy, with some members proposing to withhold further funding for efforts in Ukraine unless there is a significant augmentation in border security funding.

This move has also elicited disapproval from immigrant rights activists and Mexican President Andres Manuel López Obrador, who termed it a “regression.”

“It’s a regression because it doesn’t solve the issue,” López Obrador remarked on Thursday, having previously commended Biden for not engaging in wall construction.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released an announcement regarding the wall construction in Starr County, Texas, without providing extensive details. The area, part of the busy Rio Grande Valley Sector, has witnessed approximately 245,000 illegal crossings in the current fiscal year.

Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security, clarified the administration’s stance, stating, “From the inception of this administration, we have been unequivocal that a border wall is not a solution. That remains our unwavering position.”

Much of the territory alongside the Rio Grande is susceptible to erosion and comprises federally protected habitats. Usually, federal projects in these areas would undergo multiple environmental assessments, but U.S. immigration authorities have been granted the power to bypass such reviews for more expeditious barrier erection.

Civil liberties groups have denounced the decision. Jonathan Blazer, director of border strategies at the American Civil Liberties Union, stated, “Instead of upholding his campaign promise that a border wall is not a meaningful policy solution, the Biden administration is doubling down on failed strategies that have proven both wasteful and ineffective.”

While this is not the first instance of border wall construction under the Biden administration, the wall has been closely associated with Trump’s stringent immigration policies. Trump, who remains a leading contender for the Republican nomination for the 2024 Presidential election, commented that Biden’s move validates his original position on the wall’s utility.

“As I’ve always maintained, over the millennia, only two things have consistently worked: wheels and walls,” Trump proclaimed on his social media platform, awaiting an apology from Biden for the delay in action.

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Contributions to this report were made by Big Big News writer Nomaan Merchant.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Biden Border Wall Construction

More about Biden Border Wall Construction

• Biden Administration’s Official Statement on Border Policy
• Congressional Records on Trump-Era Border Wall Funding
• DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ Statement
• Reaction from Mexican President Andres Manuel López Obrador
• American Civil Liberties Union’s Commentary on Biden’s Decision
• Republican Party’s Position on Border Security Funding
• Overview of Current U.S. Immigration Policy
• Past Statements from President Biden on Border Wall
• Data on Illegal Crossings in the Rio Grande Valley Sector