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FIRST ON FOX: Republicans on the Home Oversight Committee are investigating the decision-making behind what they see as “conflicting” statements by the Biden administration on border wall development on the southern border — after the administration waived dozens of federal rules to permit development in Texas.
Committee Republicans, led by Chairman James Comer, have written to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in regards to the transfer to waive 26 federal legal guidelines to permit development of limitations and roads in Starr County, Texas.
The development is funded by the fiscal 12 months 2019 DHS appropriations invoice, which particularly funded wall tasks within the RGV Sector and which DHS is required to make use of for its appropriated function.
Whereas the development announcement was made in June, Mayorkas cited this month an “acute and speedy want” in an announcement on the U.S. Federal Register so as to waive federal legal guidelines as a result of excessive unlawful crossings within the space.
MAYORKAS CITES ‘IMMEDIATE NEED’ TO WAIVE REGULATIONS, BUILD BORDER WALL IN TEXAS AS IMMIGRATION SURGES
Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., desires solutions on the Biden administration’s wall development. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Name, Inc by way of Getty Photos)
“There’s presently an acute and speedy must assemble bodily limitations and roads within the neighborhood of the border of the USA so as to forestall illegal entries into the USA within the challenge areas pursuant to sections 102(a) and 102(b) of [the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996],” Mayorkas mentioned.
It instantly drew claims from each Republicans and Democrats that it was a departure from prior positions by the administration on the wall. The administration halted border wall development in early 2021 and known as such tasks ineffective whereas additionally promoting off border wall supplies.
BIDEN SAYS ‘NO,’ BORDER WALL DOESN’T WORK, AFTER MAYORKAS CITED ‘IMMEDIATE’ NEED
Comer mentioned the lawmakers agreed with the necessity for a wall, citing the continued file numbers on the border.
“On its face, your phrases concede a seemingly apparent level: that border limitations are a vital a part of securing the border, as they’ve “proved to be a crucial part in gaining operational management of the border” by diverting or slowing unlawful crossings of individuals or contraband, and end in a big and measurable lower in unlawful entry within the areas they’re erected whereas requiring much less manpower to patrol,” he mentioned. “But Administration officers proceed to claim that this motion doesn’t represent a change in coverage and that border limitations are ineffective.”
Mayorkas has since mentioned that there was no new coverage on border wall development, and the administration was mandated to spend the cash appropriated by Congress in the course of the Trump period.
“From day one, this Administration has made clear {that a} border wall isn’t the reply. That is still our place and our place has by no means wavered. The language within the Federal Register discover is being taken out of context and it doesn’t signify any change in coverage in any way,” he mentioned in an Oct. 5 assertion.
“We have now repeatedly requested Congress to rescind this cash nevertheless it has not executed so and we’re compelled to comply with the legislation,” he mentioned.
The Republicans on the Oversight Committee additionally pointed to feedback made by the White Home that “we consider {that a} border wall isn’t efficient” and comparable statements by President Biden himself.
A DHS spokesperson mentioned the company responds to congressional correspondence by way of official channels and “will proceed to reply appropriately to Congressional oversight.” The spokesperson famous the FY 2019 requirement for the cash to be spent, and that Congress wouldn’t rescind the appropriation.
“After two years of attempting to get Congress to reappropriate the funding for smarter, simpler coverage interventions, the one solution to then spend the cash as Congress supposed was to then concern a waiver of those legal guidelines,” they mentioned. “The language of the waiver was written to make sure that DHS complied with Congress’s 2019 authorized mandate that DHS spend the appropriated funds for border wall development. It isn’t a press release of the Administration’s coverage. ”
“As a matter of coverage, the Administration disagrees with Congress’s 2019 mandate and continues to oppose additional border wall development. Nonetheless, DHS should and can adjust to the legislation,” they mentioned.
The administration has additionally known as on Congress to cancel or reappropriate further border funding and divert them elsewhere. DHS has pointed to calls made in 2022 and 2021 for Congress to maneuver the cash elsewhere, together with within the FY 2022 finances – which sought to reassign the FY19 funding.
The lawmakers are in search of paperwork and communications related to the border barrier development, in addition to Mayorkas’ assertion clarifying administration coverage — along with communications between DHS and the White Home.
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In a press release to Fox Information Digital, Comer mentioned that the preliminary strikes by the administration to halt border wall development amid the continued border disaster “is indifferent from actuality.”
“The Division of Homeland Safety has lastly admitted there’s a must assemble bodily limitations alongside the border, solely after the Biden administration offered off unused border wall supplies that sat idle since President Biden’s first day in workplace,” he mentioned. “Whereas the White Home continues to reside in a fantasy land, Oversight Republicans have and can proceed to struggle for the American folks and maintain this Administration accountable for his or her failures alongside the border.”
Adam Shaw is a politics reporter for Fox Information Digital, primarily overlaying immigration and border safety.
He might be reached at adam.shaw2@fox.com or on Twitter.
Home Oversight Republicans push Biden DHS on ‘conflicting’ border wall positions
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