The Biden administration has approved $950 million in contracts to repair and upgrade existing border wall construction along the southern border, court documents show. The funding, which comes from appropriations made by Congress during the Trump administration, will be used for remediation work, system attribute installation, and other border security measures in Arizona, California, and Texas.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) awarded the contracts in September for approximately $950 million combined. This includes funds from fiscal year 2020 and fiscal year 2021 appropriations. The agency plans to make additional awards in the coming months, with $12.7 million remaining from fiscal year 2020 and $670 million from fiscal year 2021.
The contracts will be used for repair work on existing stretches of wall, including closing gaps, installing gates, and improving roads and drainage systems. In addition, the funds will be used for "system attribute installation," which includes the installation of cameras, roads, and detection technology to enhance border security. Anti-climb features will also be installed on the wall in San Diego, and funds will be used for IT support and environmental planning.
It is important to note that none of the money will be used for additional wall construction. The Biden administration halted all wall construction shortly after taking office, citing the previous administration's misplaced priorities and failure to manage migration in a safe and humane way.
Too Late, Too Little...
Wonder if MSNBC, CNN, and #MorningJoe will address this nugget of newsworthy information...
Biden admin approves $950 million in contracts for border wall repair, upgrades https://t.co/M3i2ThQUKx
— HERSHE®🍊 (@TheRealHershe) November 5, 2023
However, the administration faced criticism last month when DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas cited an "acute and immediate need" to waive federal regulations and use FY 2019 appropriations to construct 20 miles of wall in South Texas. Mayorkas clarified that this was not a change in policy, as the funds were appropriated during the previous administration and must be used for this purpose. The administration has repeatedly requested that Congress rescind this funding, but it has yet to do so.
Some Republicans have been calling for the resumption of wall construction amid the ongoing crisis at the southern border. The sweeping legislation passed earlier this year by the GOP-held House would mandate the restart of border wall construction, but it has not received any support from Democrats.
The Biden administration, however, maintains that a comprehensive approach is needed for effective border security, including state-of-the-art surveillance technology and modernized ports of entry. They have called on Congress to provide the funding for these measures.
In conclusion, the Biden administration has approved $950 million in contracts to repair and upgrade existing border wall construction. These funds, appropriated during the previous administration, will be used for remediation work and other border security measures. The administration maintains that a smarter and more comprehensive approach is needed for effective border security and urges Congress to provide funding for these measures.