False Policies

President Joe Biden Takes Down 26 Border Policies To Build a Bigger Wall

Photo by Greg Bulla on Unsplash

On Oct. 4, the Biden administration released their concerns with the current situation of illegal immigration on the United States’s southernmost border. The current border patrol units along with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) stressed concerns that illegal aliens were crossing the border by the hundreds and there was nothing they could do. Going back on his word about an open border, President Biden waived 26 federal laws in order to start construction on a new and bigger wall for the southern border. This news erupted across the country, infuriating house democrats, and went against everything Biden had campaigned for in 2020.

The Department of Homeland Security posted the announcement on the U.S. Federal Registry with few details outlining the construction in Starr County, Texas, which is part of a busy Border Patrol sector seeing “high illegal entry.” According to government data, about 245,000 illegal entries have been recorded in this region during the current fiscal year.

“President Biden stepped up to the plate with this and he is actually acting like a president,” sophomore Max Ramsey said. “Although there is a controversy behind it it's reassuring to see him actually doing his job.”

Plans were released later in the week showing that another 20 miles will be added to the current border as well as a reconstruction on the existing border. The plans also include more funding to go to Border Patrol and ICE to ensure that the southern border remains intact.

“I am glad to see our tax money going to a good cause and I like seeing our dollars help American citizens,” senior Nathan Lillie said. “On this one Biden put America first and I am glad he finally did.”

This expansion of the border will be built off of former President Donald Trump’s border plan. Trump had previously constructed 450 miles of border wall between 2017 and 2021 along with help from the governor of Texas, Greg Abbott.

The announcement prompted political debate by the democratic administration facing an increase of migrants entering through the southern border in recent months, including thousands who entered the U.S. through Eagle Pass at the end of September.

“A border wall is a 14th century solution to a 21st century problem. It will not bolster border security in Starr County,” U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar said. “I continue to stand against the wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars on an ineffective border wall.”

Even though President Biden's fellow democrats see this as an act of treason against his own party, President Biden is acting upon the interest of the American people. His plan is expected to be completed by the end of summer in 2024.