Biden’s movable wall is criticized by environmentalists and those who want more border security

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The Biden administration’s proposal to construct new barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border in South Texas has garnered criticism from both environmentalists and advocates of enhanced border security.

The blueprint for nearly 20 miles (32 kilometers) of fresh barrier in Starr County was unveiled in September when the federal government solicited public input. The subsequent month, the administration waived 26 federal regulations aimed at safeguarding the environment and specific species to expedite the construction process.

Former U.S. Border Patrol chief, Rodney Scott, stated, “The United States Border Patrol did not request this downgraded border wall.”

Despite President Joe Biden’s campaign vow to refrain from erecting additional walls, construction is progressing, coinciding with a surge in migrants arriving at the southern border from Latin America and other regions seeking asylum. Illegal border crossings exceeded 2 million for the second consecutive year in the government’s fiscal year ending on September 30th.

Advocates for heightened border security, like Scott, contend that the proposed barriers will not be sufficiently robust to deter illegal crossings. Meanwhile, environmentalists argue that the design poses a greater threat to wildlife habitats compared to former President Donald Trump’s border wall.

Biden has defended the administration’s decision by citing the necessity to utilize funding allocated during the Trump era. The law mandates that the funding for the new barriers must be utilized as approved, with construction slated for completion in 2023.

In contrast to Trump’s wall, which featured 18- to 30-foot concrete-filled steel bollard panels, Biden’s barrier will be considerably shorter and potentially temporary. A prototype of the barrier style his administration intends to employ can be observed in Brownsville, approximately 100 miles (161 kilometers) southeast of Starr County, consisting of metal bollards embedded in 4-foot-high (1.2-meter-high) cement blocks tapering toward the top.

Over the past year, the Rio Grande Valley region has ranked as the fourth-busiest area for illegal border crossings, despite having held the top spot in previous years.

With the planned design for Starr County, federal border agents will have the flexibility to reposition the fencing, as noted by Democratic U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, who represents Starr County. He remarked, “So it’s one of those things where if they want to direct traffic, they can move it.”

Scott concurred that the “movable” fences could serve as an emergency stopgap measure to block access in certain areas. However, he cautioned that if the fencing isn’t deeply anchored into the ground, someone might be able to displace it using a vehicle, provided they are willing to damage the vehicle.

Laiken Jordahl, a conservation advocate with the Center for Biological Diversity, raised concerns about the impact on wildlife. He mentioned that various animals, including mountain lions, bobcats, javelinas, coyotes, white-tail deer, armadillos, jack rabbits, ground squirrels, and two endangered, federally protected plants—Zapata bladderpod and prostrate milkweed—could be affected. Jordahl argued that the design the Biden administration is implementing “will block even the smallest species of animals from passing through the barrier.”

Scott Nicol, a board member of the Friends of the Wildlife Corridor, expressed his apprehension about unintended consequences, particularly regarding the Rio Grande, which separates the U.S. and Mexico. He pointed out that these walls, whether bollard or Jersey barrier, could impede the flow of water during heavy rainstorms, potentially causing damming.

Last month, the Center for Biological Diversity, along with approximately 100 other organizations, sent a letter to the U.S. government urging reconsideration of environmental protection laws. As of now, they have not received a response.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Biden’s movable border wall

More about Biden’s movable border wall

• Biden administration’s border wall plans
• Environmental concerns regarding movable border wall
• Waiving of federal laws for border wall construction
• Comparison of Biden’s border wall design to Trump’s
• Impact on wildlife and habitat
• Concerns about water drainage and damming
• Lack of response to plea for reconsideration