The Biden administration is facing criticism for its decision to continue building the border wall in Texas, despite previous opposition from President Biden and other Democratic leaders.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s head, Alejandro Mayorkas, indicated in an official communication that there was an “urgent and pressing necessity” to bypass certain federal regulations in order to construct a border barrier in southern Texas, where there has been a noticeable increase in unauthorized border crossings.
Mayorkas specified that the immediate need for physical barriers near the U.S. border is vital to deter illegal entries, citing sections 102(a) and 102(b) of the IIRIRA (Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996).
Early in 2021, the administration paused new border wall initiatives after Biden’s campaign assurance that under his leadership, no further sections of the wall would be added.
They had previously stated that the Trump administration’s approach to the border wall was a misdirection of priorities and did not address immigration in a considerate or structured manner.
Several political analysts and public figures highlighted the apparent shift in the Biden administration’s stance.
Collin Rugg from Trending Politics commented on X, a social media platform previously known as Twitter, expressing surprise at the administration’s change in position compared to its earlier characterization of the wall project.
Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk, also remarked on the changing times and the administration’s new stance on X, a platform he owns.
Prominent conservative figures, the Hodgetwins, questioned the lack of accusations from the left toward the Biden administration given their current actions. William Martin, a spokesperson for Senator JD Vance of Ohio, criticized Biden’s approach to border security over the past three years and doubted the administration’s credibility on the issue.
A representative from the Trump campaign stated to Fox News Digital about their belief in Trump’s foresight regarding border security and criticized President Biden’s decisions in this regard.
A representative from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) communicated to Fox News Digital about Mayorkas’s waiver, which will see the construction of approximately 17 miles of barrier in Starr County, Texas. The CBP emphasized that this move aligns with DHS’s strategy as outlined in President Biden’s Proclamation, which ceased the rerouting of funds from military projects to the border wall while ensuring the use of congressional funds for barrier construction as intended. CBP also assured its dedication to preserving national cultural and environmental assets during the construction.
