Title: Biden Administration to Add Sections to Border Wall Amid Record Migrant Crossings
In a surprising move, President Joe Biden’s administration has announced plans to add sections to the border wall in an attempt to address the record number of migrant crossings from Mexico. This decision follows in the footsteps of former President Donald Trump, who made building border barriers a central tenet of his campaign.
Although Biden had previously pledged that no more taxpayer dollars would be used for constructing a border wall, the administration argues that the money had already been allocated during Trump’s term and must be spent. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has emphasized that this does not reflect a new policy but rather utilizes already allocated funds.
Nevertheless, this move has received criticism from Biden’s left-leaning base, including immigration advocates and environmentalists who oppose further construction. They argue that a border wall is not the solution to the immigration issue. Environmentalists are particularly concerned about the impact on the region’s habitat, while Trump claims victory and demands an apology from Biden.
The Department of Homeland Security has stated the need to waive various laws, regulations, and legal requirements in order to build these barriers in Starr County, Texas, where there has been a significant influx of migrants. This waiver has further drawn attention and criticism.
Looking ahead, immigration is expected to be a major theme in the 2024 presidential race, with a majority of Americans believing that immigration is making life harder for native-born Americans. The Biden administration’s decision to proceed with the border wall exposes the president to criticism from his base, as well as from Republican governors who believe he is not taking sufficient action to stop the crossings.
The administration has been grappling with a record number of migrant crossings since Biden took office, leading to strained border cities and a backlog of over 2 million immigration cases in court. In addition to the border wall, the Biden administration has implemented measures such as a smartphone app appointment system and tough asylum rules to manage the influx of migrants.
Furthermore, in Thursday’s announcement, the administration revealed that deportation flights to Venezuela would be resumed, as thousands of migrants from the country have been making their way to the U.S.-Mexico border.
Overall, the Biden administration’s approach to immigration has faced obstacles, including Republican opposition in Congress and criticism from both Democratic and Republican leaders in border cities.
“Social media scholar. Reader. Zombieaholic. Hardcore music maven. Web fanatic. Coffee practitioner. Explorer.”