Biden Admin exempts 26 laws for border wall construction in South Texas.
Ongoing Border Crisis: Biden Administration Follows Trump’s Lead
OAN’s James Meyers
8:28 AM – Thursday, October 5, 2023
Amidst the ongoing border crisis, the Biden administration is taking a page out of the Trump administration’s playbook.
On Wednesday, the White House announced its decision to waive 26 federal laws, allowing for more border wall construction in southern Texas. This move marks the first instance of the Biden administration utilizing executive power in line with Donald Trump’s presidency.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) made the announcement on the United States Federal Registry, outlining the construction plans in Starr County, Texas, where Border Patrol agents are witnessing a significant influx of illegal entries.
“There is presently an acute and immediate need to construct physical barriers and roads in the vicinity of the border of the United States in order to prevent unlawful entries into the United States in the project areas,” stated Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
To facilitate the construction at the southern border, the DHS has waived several federal laws, including the Clean Air Act, Endangered Species Act, and Safe Drinking Water Act. The funds for the project will be sourced from a congressional appropriation in 2019 specifically designated for border wall construction.
In June, federal customs and border protection officials announced the project and began soliciting public comments in August. The proposed construction spans up to 20 miles, starting south of the Falcon Dam and extending past Salineno, Texas.
However, environmental advocates argue that the border construction will encroach upon public lands and habitats of endangered plants and species.
“A plan to build a wall through will bulldoze an impermeable barrier straight through the heart of that habitat,” warned Laiken Jordahl, a south-west conservation advocate for the Center for Biological Diversity. “It will stop wildlife migrations dead in their tracks. It will destroy a huge amount of wildlife refuge land. And it’s a horrific step backwards for the borderlands.”
During the Trump administration, nearly 450 miles of barriers were erected along the south-west border between 2017 and January 2021. Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R-Texas) has resumed the construction after it was halted at the beginning of Joe Biden’s presidency.
The decision by the Biden administration contradicts their previous statement to end the construction of the border wall. On January 20, 2021, the Biden administration stated, “building a massive wall that spans the entire southern border is not a serious policy solution.”
This latest announcement has sparked outrage among Democrats who oppose the Biden administration’s actions.
“A border wall is a 14th-century solution to a 21st-century problem,” declared Texas congressman Henry Cuellar. He added, “It will not bolster border security in Starr county.
“I continue to stand against the wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars on an ineffective border wall.”
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How do environmental advocates argue that the border wall construction will affect endangered plants and species?
Ongoing Border Crisis: Biden Administration Follows Trump’s Lead
Amidst the ongoing border crisis, the Biden administration is taking a page out of the Trump administration’s playbook. On Wednesday, the White House announced its decision to waive 26 federal laws, allowing for more border wall construction in southern Texas. This move marks the first instance of the Biden administration utilizing executive power in line with Donald Trump’s presidency.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) made the announcement on the United States Federal Registry, outlining the construction plans in Starr County, Texas, where Border Patrol agents are witnessing a significant influx of illegal entries.
“There is presently an acute and immediate need to construct physical barriers and roads in the vicinity of the border of the United States in order to prevent unlawful entries into the United States in the project areas,” stated Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
To facilitate the construction at the southern border, the DHS has waived several federal laws, including the Clean Air Act, Endangered Species Act, and Safe Drinking Water Act. The funds for the project will be sourced from a congressional appropriation in 2019 specifically designated for border wall construction.
In June, federal customs and border protection officials announced the project and began soliciting public comments in August. The proposed construction spans up to 20 miles, starting south of the Falcon Dam and extending past Salineno, Texas.
However, environmental advocates argue that the border construction will encroach upon public lands and habitats of endangered plants and species.
“A plan to build a wall through will bulldoze an impermeable barrier straight through the heart of that habitat,” warned Laiken Jordahl, a south-west conservation advocate for the Center for Biological Diversity. “It will stop wildlife migrations dead in their tracks. It will destroy a huge amount of wildlife refuge land. And it’s a horrific step backward for the borderlands.”
During the Trump administration, nearly 450 miles of barriers were erected along the southwest border between 2017 and January 2021. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has resumed the construction after it was halted at the beginning of Joe Biden’s presidency.
The decision by the Biden administration contradicts their previous statement to end the construction of the border wall. On January 20, 2021, the Biden administration stated, “building a massive wall that spans the entire southern border is not a serious policy solution.”
This latest announcement has sparked outrage among Democrats who oppose the Biden administration’s actions.
“A border wall is a 14th-century solution to a 21st-century problem,” declared Texas congressman Henry Cuellar. He added, “It will not bolster border security in Starr County.”
The Biden administration’s decision to continue border wall construction demonstrates a willingness to prioritize border security, even as they face criticism from their own party. As the border crisis persists, it remains to be seen how this decision will impact future immigration policies and the overall approach to border control in the United States.
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