Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas maintains that the Biden administration remains opposed to border walls, despite plans to construct up to 20 miles of barriers in Texas. In a statement on Thursday, Mayorkas stated, “From day one, this Administration has made clear that a border wall is not the answer.” He emphasized that their position has not changed and that the notice waiving federal laws to expedite construction should not be interpreted as a change in policy. According to CBS News, the notice was related to an “acute and immediate need” to build barriers and roads at the airport.
Mayorkas explained that Congress allocated funds for the project during the Trump administration, and the law requires the government to utilize the funds as intended. “We have repeatedly asked Congress to rescind this money but it has not done so and we are compelled to follow the law,” he said. In parallel, President Biden echoed similar sentiments, stating that the allocated money must be used for its designated purpose. When asked if he believes the border wall works, Biden responded with a resounding “No.”
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The decision to build the barriers was met with criticism from the ACLU, environmental groups, and Indigenous communities. These groups argue that the law does not require the administration to waive environmental and cultural protections to speed up construction, as reported by The Guardian. Laiken Jordahl, a campaigner with the Center for Biological Diversity, expressed bewilderment over the waivers, stating that the Endangered Species Act could have remained intact to protect endangered wildlife and these areas. He describes the move as “a new low, a horrific step backwards for the borderlands.”
On the other side, Donald Trump took to his Truth Social network demanding an apology from Biden for the delay and allowing what he claims to be 15 million illegal immigrants flooding into the country. (Read more border wall stories.)
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