During a recent visit to Iowa, former Vice President Mike Pence, now a presidential contender for the GOP, highlighted the contradiction in the recent decision by the Biden administration to resume construction on the border wall, a Trump-era initiative.
“It strikes me as ironic that the Biden team just disclosed their plans to continue wall construction,” Pence remarked. “It seems that even those who are lost sometimes find their way.”
He further commented, “However, building a mere 26 miles won’t suffice.”
Echoing a similar sentiment, Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas, expressed, “While specific barriers can be effective in high-traffic zones, they’re only part of the answer.” Allred advocated for a broader immigration strategy that involves both increased funding for border security staff and enhanced technology.
According to a recent report by The Hill, the Biden administration’s latest announcement mentioned sidestepping 26 federal protocols to erect over 20 miles of the wall in Texas using funds allocated during Trump’s tenure.
Allred stated, addressing The Hill, “Such measures are vital to aid Texas border towns grappling with the present influx of immigrants.”
The decision to proceed with the wall has caused a rift among Democrats. While President Joe Biden had previously steered clear of further wall construction, this move has been criticized by some in his party as a backtrack. Meanwhile, others deem it essential to curtail unauthorized entries from Mexico.
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus expressed their disappointment, with CHC Chair Nanette Diaz Barragan, D-Calif., noting that this move seemed inconsistent with the present administration’s prior stance against wall construction.
On the other side, many Republicans view this as a pragmatic solution to the immigration challenge.
Addressing the backlash, President Biden clarified that legal boundaries dictated the use of funds specifically for the wall. “I aimed to have the funds repurposed, but the request was denied,” Biden explained. “Legally, the money must be used for its intended purpose. My hands are tied.”
When queried about the wall’s efficacy, Biden responded in the negative.
Highlighting the urgency of the situation, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas stated, “There’s a pressing need for tangible barriers and access roads near the US border to thwart unauthorized entries in specified zones.”
