The U.S. Joe Biden administration announced on the 4th (local time) that it would waive 26 federal laws to allow the construction of a wall to prevent illegal immigration on the southern border of Texas, which borders Mexico. The Biden administration has so far halted the construction of a wall that was carried out during the Donald Trump administration, but this is a move to reverse this. As immigrants from Central and South America are flocking in, major cities are suffering and it is expected to emerge as a major issue in next year’s U.S. presidential election, so they are starting to take action.
According to the Associated Press, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today that it is “waiving certain laws, regulations, and other legal requirements to expedite construction of a wall and road near the border in Starr County, Texas.” Starr County is an area where 245,000 illegal immigrants arrived during the U.S. government’s current fiscal year alone.
Laws exempted from application by DHS include the Clean Air Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act. Starr County includes part of the Rio Grande National Wildlife Refuge. Accordingly, the plan is to exempt the application of the law to shorten the time it takes to review the law and avoid lawsuits challenging violations of environmental laws.
“There is a pressing and immediate need to build physical barriers and roads near the U.S. border to prevent illegal entry into the United States,” DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said. Regarding this, the Associated Press pointed out, “DHS’s decision contrasts with the Biden administration’s stance that building a wall in January 2021 is not the solution.” The Biden administration has halted the construction of a wall promoted by the Trump administration immediately after taking office in 2021.
It is understood that the background to the Biden administration’s decision is that the immigration issue is emerging as an issue in next year’s presidential election. Recently, 116,000 immigrants flocked to New York City, the Democratic Party’s stronghold, last year, intensifying citizen discontent. According to the New York Times, New York City is facing an astronomical financial burden due to the influx of immigrants, and New York City Mayor Eric Adams last month ordered all city agencies to submit plans to reduce costs. Protests for and against immigration took place in front of the Manhattan University dormitory, which was designated as a temporary housing site for immigrants.
Environmental activists opposed DHS’s announcement. “Constructing a wall will stop the movement of wild animals and destroy wildlife protection areas,” Ryken Dallal, director of the Center for Biological Diversity, told the Associated Press. Representative Henry Cuellar (Democrat, Texas) also said, “The wall is a 14th century solution to a 21st century problem,” and “I am opposed to wasting taxpayer money on an ineffective wall.”
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.