On Oct. 6, the Biden administration announced that a section of the Texas border wall would continue construction. Biden claims that the border wall will continue to be constructed using funds that were appropriated during the Trump administration and that lawmakers have refused to reallocate the funds for a different purpose.
This decision comes after Biden ran a very outspoken campaign against his predecessor’s pet project. During his 2021 campaign, Biden said that — if elected — “There will not be another foot of wall constructed on my administration.” Instead, Biden vowed to take a more focused approach to border security — such as more investment in high-tech tools as well as a greater focus on ports of entry.
However, while the Biden administration may not have made the final decision to resume construction, they are ensuring that the plans have a clear path to move forward. According to the Texas Tribune, 26 federal laws are being waived in order to pave the way for the construction of the wall in Star County, including the “Clean Air Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Endangered Species Act.”
This move has shocked many of Biden’s allies, some of whom showed support for his strong stance against the border wall. Many have criticized the move to continue construction, as the border wall has proven to harm ecosystems and local residents, all while being largely ineffective at deterring migration.
As citizens, we cannot allow this extreme transgression by the Biden administration to go overlooked. The move is a costly one, and an extreme change from Biden’s usual tune when it comes to border security. The border wall has been firmly criticized — and for good reason. Texas does not need more border walls; it is extremely harmful to the local environment and a waste of both resources and taxpayer money.
