When President Biden entered office, Jan. 20, he stopped all construction of the wall. Large sections of the wall were left unfinished and construction material remained unused at the border.
On April 12, 2021, piles of unutilized border fence were found at one of the Johnson Ranch staging areas for border wall construction near Columbus, New Mexico.
On April 12, 2021, piles of unutilized border fence were found at one of the Johnson Ranch staging areas for border wall construction near Columbus, New Mexico. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Although the plan doesn’t include additional miles of wall construction, it would close small gaps left open by prior construction activities or remediate incomplete gates.
TEXAS BUILD BORDER WALLS WITHOUT FEDERAL FUNDS: TEXANS SAYING ENOUGH OF OPEN BORDERS POLICY’
DHS stated that the move was part of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ plan to use border funding “to protect border communities against physical dangers resulting in the previous administration’s approach towards border wall construction.”
Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security, testifies at a Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing, Tuesday, November 16, 2021 on Capitol Hill, Washington.
Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security, testifies at a Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing, Tuesday, November 16, 2021 on Capitol Hill, Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
According to the department, the funds will be used to repair and maintain drainage systems.
The work will take place in Tucson, Yuma, and El Paso’s border sectors that stretch from California to Texas. The department stated that it is also looking into other possible work in all three states.
Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee stated Monday in a statement that the move was a “step forward.”
Portman stated, “I’m happy to see that they are finally taking actions to secure our borders – now isn’t the time to encourage unlawful migration or the inflow of deadly fentanyl through continuing their failed policies.” I call on the Biden administration for the installation of the technology Border Patrol requires to complete their mission, to close all gaps in the border wall and to implement policies to reduce the illegal migration and illicit narcotics.
DHS said that it continues to urge Congress to eliminate funding for the border wall and to fund smarter security measures at the border that have been proven to improve safety and security at its border.
