(TheRedAlertNews.com) Forced to admit that Donald Trump was right, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has now acknowledged the urgent need for a border wall in southern Texas. To expedite the construction, he has chosen to sidestep several environmental protection laws.
Mayorkas pointed to specific areas along the border that need barriers and roads, expressing concerns that the said environmental laws would slow down the construction. In an official filling in the Federal Register, he stated, “There is presently an acute and immediate need to construct physical barriers and roads in the vicinity of the border of the United States in order to prevent unlawful entries into the United States in the project areas.” He added, “In order to ensure the expeditious construction of the barriers and roads in the project areas, I have determined that it is necessary that I exercise the authority that is vested in me by section 102(c) of IIRIRA.”
The IIRIRA, or the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act, allows the Homeland Security Secretary to bypass certain laws to facilitate border infrastructure.
Mayorkas’ decision to waive 26 federal laws includes notable ones such as the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Air Act, and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.
This move comes as a surprise, especially considering President Biden’s 2020 obstinate campaign assurance that there would “not be another foot of wall constructed” during his administration. Furthermore, the Biden administration is preparing to contest Texas’ floating wall in the Rio Grande in court, arguing its potential negative impact on river navigation.
Former President Donald Trump promised the construction of the wall back in 2016 when he was a presidential candidate. During his tenure, multiple waivers were utilized to erect over 450 miles of the barrier.
In 2021, while Mayorkas acknowledged the potential to mend “gaps” from the construction pause, he reiterated the administration’s position, stating on “Fox News Sunday” that under “the policy of this administration, we do not agree with a building of the wall.” This stance is at odds with Border Patrol agents, who believe that certain areas would benefit from barriers for effective management.
Reiterating his plans in the Federal Register notice, Mayorkas confirmed intentions for both barriers and roads, asserting, “Construction will be funded by a fiscal year 2019 appropriation through which Congress appropriated funds for the construction border barrier in the Rio Grande Valley, and DHS is required to use those funds for their appropriated purpose.”
