- Biden plans border wall.
- Controversy over wall construction.
- Escalating immigration and criticism.
The Biden administration plans to construct a section of the border wall in southern Texas to impede the rising immigration flow.
Starr County will build a 32-kilometer stretch along its border with Mexico, where authorities report a significant influx of people crossing the boundary.
A border wall was a cornerstone policy of Donald Trump during his presidency, vehemently opposed by Democrats.
Mr. Biden pledged in 2020 that, if elected, he would not build another foot of the wall.
As soon as his administration took office, it issued a proclamation stating that constructing a wall along the southern frontier “is not a viable policy solution.”
However, Mr. Biden stated on Thursday that he “cannot halt” the border wall’s construction because the necessary funds have already been appropriated.
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He unequivocally replied “no” when asked about his belief in the wall’s viability.
Wednesday evening, the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a statement to Associated News defending its most recent action by stating that the funds were being used for a border barrier.
“Congress appropriated fiscal year 2019 funds for the construction of a border barrier in the Rio Grande Valley, and DHS is required to use those funds for their appropriated purpose,” the statement read.
Mr. Biden’s statements are in contrast to a notice regarding the project that appeared on the US Federal Registry. In that notice, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas expressed the critical and immediate necessity to establish physical barriers and roads near the United States border along the project areas as a preventive measure against unauthorized entries into the country.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador of Mexico criticized the announcement at his daily news conference, stating that the construction of a wall is “contrary” to what Vice President Biden had previously advocated.
“I understand there is strong pressure from extreme right-wing political groups in the United States,” he continued.
The escalating volume of unauthorized border crossings has left President Biden in a precarious position.
Government data indicates that over 245,000 border crossings have occurred in the Rio Grande Valley region alone so far this year, with September shaping up to be a month of records.
Multiple US cities report feeling the effects of the influx.
Mayor Eric Adams of New York City has projected that the cost of accommodating the over 100,000 newcomers since the previous year will increase to $12 billion over the next three years.
This week, Mr. Adams will embark on a journey to Mexico, Colombia, and Ecuador in an effort to dissuade migrants from embarking. He declared, “At capacity,” on Tuesday.
They waived dozens of federal statutes, including the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Clean Air Act, to permit its construction.
Environmentalists are furious because the constructions will intrude on endangered flora and fauna habitats.
“President Biden’s disregard for our nation’s foundational environmental laws in favor of constructing border walls that harm wildlife is disheartening,” said Laiken Jordahl, a conservation advocate with the Centre for Biological Diversity.
The barriers will include gates, cameras, and CCTV equipment, in addition to substantial bollards embedded in a concrete base, as per a proposal by US Customs and Border Protection.
Homeland Security said Trump administration funds will build the new segment.
It is the first time the Biden administration has exercised its authority to authorize the construction of new walls. The Trump administration frequently renovated 50 miles of new walls and 400 miles of existing barriers during his presidency.
Mr. Trump requested that the president “apologize to me and America for taking so long to get moving” in an online post published on Thursday.
“So interesting to watch Crooked Joe Biden break every environmental law in the book to prove that I was right,” he concluded. “I will await his apology.”
Mr. Biden has faced mounting criticism regarding his immigration policies following a recent influx of migrants entering the United States.
According to the most recent data, the United States Border Patrol apprehended 181,059 individuals along the southern border in August, up from 132,648 in July.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador of Mexico estimated that 10,000 individuals crossed the border daily during the previous week.
