The Biden administration, in a surprising turn of events, decided to channel its inner Trump and announced construction on parts of the border wall in South Texas. The move stirred a fierce response from Democrats and a chorus of “We Told You So” from conservatives.
The administration, which had been vociferous in its contention that border walls don’t work, has now invoked executive power, waiving 26 federal laws to continue construction of the wall, much to the consternation of people like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), who issued a press release castigating the president for this decision.
The lawmaker minced absolutely no words in expressing her disapproval. "The Biden administration was not required to waive several environmental laws to expedite the building of the border wall. The President needs to take responsibility for this decision and reverse course,” she said.
AOC continued, arguing that physical barriers are not an effective way to curb illegal immigration.
A wall does nothing to deter people who are fleeing poverty and violence from coming to the United States. You do not risk your life or your childrens' lives going through the Darién Gap or traversing hundreds of miles of desert if you have any other options. Walls only serve to push migrants into more remote areas, increasing their chances of death. It is a cruel policy.
— Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@RepAOC) October 5, 2023
This move on the part of the Biden administration is likely the best example of irony in American politics today. RedState’s Bob Hoge noted:
“Not only is it ironic that Biden is building a wall after putting an end to former President Donald Trump's efforts to put one up, but he's waiving 26 environmental laws—including the Clean Air Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act—to do so.”
The issue also placed White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre in the unenviable position of having to explain away the apparent contradiction. It did not go well.
What I can tell you is DHS announced this back in June that they were going to move forward with this. That's what I can share with you. That's what I know is to be true and is to be fact. Look, I can speak for the President. The President said he was asked directly. He doesn't believe a border wall is effective.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre tries desperately to explain why the Biden administration is constructing a wall in South Texas while the president continues to claim walls don't work.
— Jeff Charles, An Awful Pundit🏴 (@jeffcharlesjr) October 5, 2023
"He has said that he does not believe a border wall is effective." pic.twitter.com/T94CbNAf2B
This story highlights the precarious position in which the Biden administration finds itself. President Joe Biden ran on a decidedly open borders platform. Shortly after taking office, people in South and Central America took him at his word and began showing up at the southern border hoping to gain entry into the United States. Now, major U.S. cities are feeling the strain of having to take in so many asylum seekers and illegal immigrants.
Now, the president has to actually do something about the crisis even if he has to pretend he doesn’t want to. Perhaps he should have just been more honest about the matter from the get-go?
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