Biden Administration Makes Trump-Era-Like Move: Bypasses Federal Laws To Continue Border Wall Construction In South Texas

In a twist of events, the Biden administration has bypassed 26 federal laws to allow the construction of a border wall in South Texas, reports Politico.

What Happened: This unexpected move by the current administration marks the first instance of such extensive use of executive power, reminiscent of the Trump era. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) made this announcement on the U.S. Federal Registry, but specifics about the construction in Starr County, Texas, remain vague.

Starr County, a busy Border Patrol sector, has seen a high number of illegal entries, with about 245,000 unlawful entries recorded in the current fiscal year. DHS Secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, emphasized the urgent need for physical barriers and roads to curb illegal entries into the U.S.

The federal laws waived include the Clean Air Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act. This move will allow DHS to speed up construction by avoiding potentially long reviews and lawsuits over environmental law violations. The construction will be financed by a congressional appropriation made in 2019 for border wall construction.

The proposed construction in Starr County, which houses around 65,000 residents and is part of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge, is expected to extend the existing border barrier system by an extra 20 miles. The environmental impact of such construction, particularly on endangered species like the Ocelot, is a concern.

The decision has reignited political debates, with some criticizing the use of outdated solutions for modern problems, while others view it as a necessary step towards securing the nation’s borders.

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Why It Matters: The border wall has been a contentious issue for quite some time. As reported on June 2, 2023, GOP presidential primary Ron DeSantis pledged to complete the border wall that Donald Trump promised in 2016 but did not deliver.

Later in the same year, on September 25 GOP, GOP Presidential Candidate, Sen. Tim Scott also pledged to complete the U.S.-Mexico border wall if he wins the 2024 election.

This move by the Biden administration appears to be a response to the ongoing pressure and criticism regarding the border issue.

Photo by Fishman64 on Shutterstock

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