The United States is set to construct a new section of the border wall in southern Texas to address the increasing numbers of illegal immigrants entering the country.
This decision marks a significant reversal of President Joe Biden’s earlier stance against further wall construction.
Approximately 20 miles (32km) of the border wall will be built in Starr County along the U.S.-Mexico border, an area that has witnessed a high volume of illegal border crossings.
During his presidential campaign in 2020, Joe Biden had promised not to build any additional sections of the border wall.
In one of his early actions as president, he issued a proclamation stating that building a wall across the southern border “is not a serious policy solution.”
However, the rising number of illegal border crossings has forced the administration to take action.
More than 245,000 illegal crossings have been recorded in the Rio Grande Valley area alone this year, with September expected to set a record for the highest number of crossings.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection defended the decision, stating that funds allocated for border barrier construction in fiscal year 2019 would be used for this purpose.
“Congress appropriated fiscal year 2019 funds for the construction of border barrier in the Rio Grande Valley, and DHS is required to use those funds for their appropriated purpose,” the agency said.
The move to build new border walls has drawn criticism from environmentalists who argue that these structures will cut through habitats of endangered plants and animals.
The proposed barriers will consist of large bollards embedded in a concrete base, along with gates, cameras, and CCTV equipment.
This marks the first time the Biden administration has used its powers to approve the construction of new walls, a practice that was frequently employed during the Trump administration, resulting in the construction of 450 miles of border barriers between 2017 and January 2021.
The Department of Homeland Security announced the waiver of 26 federal laws to facilitate the construction, avoiding time-consuming reviews and potential lawsuits related to environmental laws.
Starr County, known for its hilly ranchlands and the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge, will be significantly affected by the construction.
