Biden Administration Defends Waiving 26 Federal Laws to Construct Border Wall in South Texas

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has come under fire for waiving 26 federal laws in order to construct roughly 20 miles of additional border wall in South Texas. President Joe Biden defended the decision on Thursday, saying that the Trump-era funding for the barrier must be used to stop illegal migration from Mexico.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas rejected criticism of the decision, saying that the Biden administration was bound by law to follow through with the project. Biden said that he had tried to get lawmakers to redirect the money but Congress refused, and the law requires the funding to be used as approved and the construction to be completed in 2023.

Mayorkas also rejected the notion that the administration had changed its policy as it relates to a border wall, which President Biden strongly denounced during the 2020 presidential campaign. “From day one, this Administration has made clear that a border wall is not the answer,” Mayorkas said in a statement Thursday. When asked if he thought such walls work, he said flatly, “No.”

The decision to waive the 26 federal laws has sparked debate among both Democrats and Republicans. While some argue that the wall is necessary to stop illegal immigration, others contend that it is a waste of money and a violation of human rights.

The Biden administration has made it clear that it is committed to addressing the root causes of migration, such as poverty and violence, and that it will continue to work with Congress to find a more humane and effective solution to the issue. In the meantime, the construction of the wall is expected to be completed by 2023.