This Thursday, the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Alejandro Mayorkas, declared that an announcement published on Wednesday in which the Biden Administration appeared to change its narrative on the border wall was misinterpreted.
In the document, Mayorkas had indicated that he is using his powers - granted by Congress - to waive 26 federal laws, including the Clean Air Act, the Drinking Water Act and the Endangered Species Act, to resume construction of the fence for border security.
According to a document published in the Federal Register, the DHS had recognized that there is now “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 pursuant to sections 102(a) and 102(b) of [the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996]".
However, on Thursday, Mayorkas denied that the Biden Administration considers the construction of the border wall necessary.
“I want to address today’s reporting relating to a border wall and be absolutely clear. There is no new Administration policy with respect to border walls. From day one, this Administration has made clear that a border wall is not the answer,” Mayorkas said in a statement.
“That remains our position and our position has never wavered,” added the controversial secretary. “The language in the Federal Register notice is being taken out of context and it does not signify any change in policy whatsoever.”
The announcement in the Federal Register and Mayorkas' comments come at a time when the Biden Administration faces fierce criticism for the increase in the flow of migration at the southern border.
Customs and Border Protection estimates that, during September, more than 260,000 encounters occurred, representing the highest monthly number recorded to date.
