Biden Resumes Border Wall Amid Democratic Backlash

The Biden administration is resuming the construction of a border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, a move criticized by Democrats who previously condemned similar proposals from the Trump administration as “racist” and “ineffective” in addressing immigration issues.

Biden Resumes Border Wall Contrary to Prior Pledge

President Biden, following the announcement of the border wall construction in Texas, asserted at the White House that he attempted to redirect the allocated funds for the project, emphasizing his belief that border walls are not effective.

Biden’s statement contrasts with remarks made a day earlier by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who justified the need to bypass 26 federal laws for constructing border walls in the Rio Grande Valley Sector due to an “acute and immediate need.” Mayorkas later clarified that his comments were taken out of context and did not indicate a change in policy.

Despite Biden’s previous commitment that no new border wall would be erected during his leadership, the administration contends that the construction is funded by the fiscal year 2019 Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill. This bill specifically allocated funds for wall projects in the Rio Grande Valley Sector, and the DHS is obligated to use the funds for their intended purpose.

The issue of constructing barriers along the southern border has been a contentious topic among public officials for years, intensifying during the Trump administration. In 2018, Trump faced opposition from Democrats, including Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi, who adamantly opposed his $5 billion demand for the border wall. Democrats consistently criticized the wall, labeling it as “immoral,” “expensive,” and “racist.”

Various Democratic figures, including Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Beto O’Rourke, and Adam Schiff, have linked Trump’s border wall to anti-immigrant sentiments and racism. Despite the earlier suspension of new wall construction by the Biden administration in 2021, the recent decision to proceed with the project has sparked renewed criticism from Democrats who had condemned similar efforts under the previous administration.