Biden Administrations Greenlights Construction of Texas Border Wall
In a significant policy shift, the Biden administration announced on Wednesday that it has waived 26 federal laws in South Texas, enabling the construction of the border wall. This move marks the first time the current administration has employed executive power to facilitate the building of border barriers, a strategy frequently utilized during the Trump era.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) made the announcement on the U.S. Federal Registry, highlighting the construction plans in Starr County, Texas. This region, known for its "high illegal entry," has witnessed approximately 245,000 illegal crossings in the current fiscal year. DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas emphasized the "acute and immediate need" for physical barriers in the area to deter unlawful entries.
To expedite the construction process, the DHS has waived several federal laws, including the Clean Air Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, and Endangered Species Act. This move bypasses potentially lengthy reviews and potential lawsuits that could arise from environmental law violations. While the exact construction details remain undisclosed, previous data suggests that the new construction could extend the existing border barrier by around 20 miles.
Starr County Judge Eloy Vera expressed concerns about the environmental impact, particularly given the region's erosive nature and the presence of creeks leading into the river. Starr County encompasses ranchland and a portion of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge, home to around 65,000 residents.
Environmentalists warn that the new barriers could adversely affect public lands and habitats of endangered species, such as the ocelot. Laiken Jordahl from the Center for Biological Diversity criticized the move, stating that the wall would disrupt wildlife migrations and devastate vast portions of the wildlife refuge.
The Trump administration had previously constructed about 450 miles of barriers along the southwest border from 2017 to January 2021. Texas Governor Greg Abbott resumed these efforts as part of his immigration enforcement strategy, even after President Biden initially halted them.
The recent DHS decision seems at odds with the Biden administration's earlier stance, which dismissed the idea of a massive wall as a "not a serious policy solution."
The announcement has ignited political debates, especially given the recent surge in migrants at the southern border. U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar criticized the decision, labeling the wall as an "ineffective" and "wasteful" use of taxpayer money. Conversely, Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, hailed the move as a recognition of the wall's effectiveness and urged the administration to expand its construction across the border.
