Mayorkas: Build the Wall!
[guest post by JVW]
It’s getting to be such that down is up and up is down. Per National Review Online:
Department of Homeland Security secretary Alejandro Mayorkas waived 26 federal laws Wednesday, allowing border-wall construction in south Texas to resume under the Biden administration for the first time since former president Donald Trump left office.
“There is presently 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,” Mayorkas wrote in the notice.
The new construction project will add an additional 20 miles to the border wall in Starr County, Texas, which has been reported as an area experiencing “high illegal entry.” Border Patrol’s Rio Grande Valley sector, in which the county is located, has seen over 245,000 illegal migrants enter the U.S. through that area during fiscal year 2023.
Among the 26 laws that the DHS waived included the Clean Air Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, and Endangered Species Act, all notable environmental laws that limited further construction of the wall. The project will be funded by a congressional appropriations package from fiscal year 2019, the notice stated.
Wait, an appropriations package from 2019? My God, Donald Trump did get the wall built after all!
Future historians are going to marvel when looking back on illegal immigration policy in this country for the past 50 years. Democrats have been happy to fight tooth and nail against any attempts to prevent waves of immigrants crossing the border when it was swelling their future constituencies, but once the effects of lax southern border policies started appearing on the streets of New York, Washington, Boston, Philadelphia, and other progressive Eastern redoubts, why suddenly it became an unmanageable problem that at long last needed to be addressed. The bus caravans sponsored by Texas Governor Greg Abbott were perhaps exploitative in many ways, but they appear now to be one of the most effective political gambits in recent memory, at least in terms of getting results that mere weeks earlier seemed highly implausible.
Do not forget that Joe Biden declared an end to the Trump Administration’s border emergency when he became President in early 2021, telling the nation that “Building a massive wall that spans the entire southern border is not a serious policy solution.” During the 2020 campaign he had promised that “[t]here will not be another foot of wall constructed in my administration.” So it goes for the biggest blowhard to ever occupy the Oval Office (and yes, that includes his predecessor).
Imagine if the GOP wasn’t busy pissing all over itself. Why, the Democrats’ border cynicism might even be covered by CNN (as of this moment, no coverage of the Mayorkas announcement) or the New York Times (brief article about the border situation here but no mention of the new barrier construction). To its credit, the Washington Post did see fit to cover this important development, even though it makes the Democrats look as craven and opportunistic as we always knew them to be. The WaPo must really want Biden out and somebody else topping the ticket next year.
Joe Biden is running out of things to lie to us about.
– JVW
I’m waiting for NYC to pass a civic ordinance to say that the children of illegal immigrants are to be denied public accommodations, including schooling for their kids. Might as well have the Democrats do an entire 180 on this core principle.
JVW (1ad43e) — 10/4/2023 @ 8:52 pmThe most-liked comment so far on the NRO article:
That just about sums up my level of cynicism too. Next thing you know, Gavin Newsom will veto bills favorable to the trans lobby and to organized labor. Election years bring such funny things from the ruling party.
JVW (1ad43e) — 10/4/2023 @ 8:57 pmWe’ll probably find that Mexico is paying for the wall, too.
Kevin M (ed969f) — 10/4/2023 @ 10:01 pmThe optics could have been worse. The idea of a “remain in Texas” rule might have had the INS securing Texas’ border with adjoining states.
Kevin M (ed969f) — 10/4/2023 @ 10:06 pmBiden being a corporate establishment stooge will do the minimum he can get away with on fentanyl to keep establishment democrat moderates from getting voted out if abortion isn’t enough for suburban women and still keep the left from jumping ship. The DNC and biden rightly fear a primary challenge from the left so mostly lip service on the border. RFK is no threat AOC is. Keep the squad on board! The states he needs Az, Ga, Mi, Pa. and Wi. wouldn’t take much to make up that 43,000 votes he won the electoral collage by in 2020. Newson/AOC 2024 will work. Biden/harris 2024 not so much!
asset (c6b5c7) — 10/5/2023 @ 1:41 amThat’s… a hell of a reversal.
The border situation must have gotten so bad, they’re terrified of the political consequences.
I can’t help to think that Gov. Abbot’s and Gov. DeSantis’ “bussing illegals to liberal conclaves” that forced a NIMBY’ism reaction from the left now.
It goes to show, that we must ensure that the inane policies the left advocates, must live with the consequences whenever possible.
whembly (5f7596) — 10/5/2023 @ 7:32 amBiden is hoping to trade wall funding for passage of aid to Ukraine. MAGA won’t take it. They’ll demand changes to asylum and immigration law.
The wall is useless anyway, and couldn’t possibly make any difference for years. Interestingly, MAGA is not now interested in building more jails for migrants.
Sammy Finkelman (7661fb) — 10/5/2023 @ 8:39 amThe wall is useless anyway, and couldn’t possibly make any difference for years.
That’s my problem with it too, Sammy. Building a wall is all about grandstanding and pretending to solve a problem that is far more entrenched and complicated than simply preventing people from making illegal border crossings. But it is a physical object which can be photographed and disseminated to voters as a sign that our government takes this stuff seriously, even when it emphatically does not.
And, to be fair, the Mayorkas directive strikes me as likely being a temporary series of roadblocks at one particular location rather than a permanent barrier. But I still think this exposes a tremendous degree of hypocrisy in the Biden Administration’s treatment of illegal immigration and open borders.
JVW (1ad43e) — 10/5/2023 @ 10:34 amIt’s good politics and good government.
I don’t know about “trade wall funding for passage of aid to Ukraine”. I want both.
And it will take the “we’re funding the Ukraine border but not ours” wind out pf the neo-Soviets’ sails.
nk (6581b9) — 10/5/2023 @ 10:53 amThe wall construction has a lot of media coverage today.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 10/5/2023 @ 11:58 amThe idea of a “remain in Texas” rule might have had the INS securing Texas’ border with adjoining states.
Kevin M (ed969f) — 10/4/2023 @ 10:06 pm
I’m sorry, but you got into my wheelhouse. I suspect many on here could use an agency update.
INS ceased to exist 20 years ago. After 9/11, and with the creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), INS, which had been under the Department of Justice, was abolished, and three new agencies, all under the umbrella of DHS, were created. Those three agencies are Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
ICE is the law enforcement arm that handles immigration issues in the interior of the country. CBP handles the border, including ports of entry (land, sea, and air). USCIS is in charge of giving out benefits like work permits, asylum, visa renewals, green cards, and citizenship.
Don’t worry, Kevin. You are one of many who get agency confusion. Recently, I was watching the TV show Dark Winds, which is enjoyable just on scenery alone. The show is set in 1971. In one episode, a tribal police officer opened a letter from CBP that offered her a job with the Border Patrol. CBP didn’t exist in 1971. 😁
norcal (cccc9b) — 10/5/2023 @ 1:05 pmJVW (1ad43e) — 10/5/2023 @ 10:34 am
It’s actually somewhat of a recognition of reality (probably because it may come from border guards union) since preventing people from making illegal border crossings is the only way to keep people out. Under international agreements, non-Mexicans cannot simply be pushed back across the border, and then there’s the right of asylum.
There are lots of lies told. This gets mixed up with the smuggling of fentanyl (smuggled by U.S> citizens or approved non-U.S. truck drivers at legal ports of entry) and the claim that Democrats want illegal immigrants to come because they want their votes. This gets back into the fantasy of in-person voter fraud when it’s much easier to do with absentee ballots.
Sammy FInkelman (c5132f) — 10/5/2023 @ 1:11 pmThe New York Daily News had an editorial Tuesday about all this close the border claims statements, which the Republicans have gotten some Democrats to join. (mostly probably because the Democrats don’t want to face up to the fact that there is probably some corruption in the handing out of contracts)
In the newspaper the editorial was entitled “Clear as Mud”
https://www.nydailynews.com/2023/10/03/n-y-dems-suggestions-of-border-restrictions-should-be-explicit
Note: I think it did discourage people. The death penalty is always a deterrent. It just did not reduce it low enough to satisfy the restrictionists.
Wen you explain what it is exactly that is being proposed, it cant be defended.
There’s an error here which escaped proofreading but I corrected: In the printed newspaper as well as online the word “here” is mistakenly spelled “her,” A spellchecker wouldn’t catch that.
Sammy FInkelman (c5132f) — 10/5/2023 @ 1:14 pmThe editorial earlier said:
Sammy Finkelman (c5132f) — 10/5/2023 @ 1:16 pmThe only way to reform it is to allow other ways to migrate.
Or undercharge the cartels.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/14/world/americas/migrant-business-darien-gap.html
At least they are mostly avoiding getting people killed, like on the way from Africa to Europe. This is probably thanks to Facebook.
More:
Sammy Finkelman (c5132f) — 10/5/2023 @ 1:23 pmSammy, we can’t just let in everyone around the world who wants to live in the U.S. Are you prepared to see a U.S. population five to ten times larger than it already is? I’m not.
norcal (cccc9b) — 10/5/2023 @ 1:29 pmJVW (1ad43e) — 10/5/2023 @ 10:34 am
What he did was waive various rules, that prohibited construction.
That’s been there since the beginning.
Now look at this:
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/4240303-biden-argues-his-hands-were-tied-with-border-wall-funds
That only makes sense if he thinks it is better to waste money than not ro spend it at all.
Sammy Finkelman (c5132f) — 10/5/2023 @ 1:49 pmI think immigration could easily be held to less than 15 million persons a year if that’s what you wanted to do.
Sammy Finkelman (c5132f) — 10/5/2023 @ 1:50 pmI think immigration could easily be held to less than 15 million persons a year if that’s what you wanted to do.
Sammy Finkelman (c5132f) — 10/5/2023 @ 1:50 pm
I think that’s too many, but even with your number there will be enforcement required, which means deportation from the interior and turning people around at the border. I’ve never seen you make a pro-enforcement statement.
norcal (4217ad) — 10/5/2023 @ 1:59 pmNo. the higher the number the less the enforcement, and there’s no reason to be strict and insist on absolute power. The important point is not to make the trip dangerous.
Sammy Finkelman (c5132f) — 10/5/2023 @ 2:11 pmDon’t worry, Kevin. You are one of many who get agency confusion.
A severe case of NGAF.
Kevin M (ed969f) — 10/5/2023 @ 2:12 pmI was watching the TV show Dark Winds
Great show, especially for me now living in New Mexico.
Kevin M (ed969f) — 10/5/2023 @ 2:14 pmMy perfect plan for solving the problem:
Conquer everything down through Panama. Then the southern border is easily defended. Some social restructuring needed, of course, but that’s a detail.
Kevin M (ed969f) — 10/5/2023 @ 2:17 pmU-turn:
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mayorkas-backtracks-texas-border-wall-hours-dhs-cites-immediate-need
ColoComment (c2d3a0) — 10/5/2023 @ 2:56 pmWhat you call the left (thats me) is actually corporate establishment liberal office holders who fear (hate) the left as much as you do. As sun tzu says if you don’t know your enemy you will lose every time.
asset (879403) — 10/5/2023 @ 3:37 pmBeto says biden no different then trump on wall. Left is starting to jump ship! As DCSCA said and trump smiles putin too!
asset (879403) — 10/5/2023 @ 3:43 pmThey asked White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre which was the lie – what they are saying now or the language that they put in the Federal Refister.
She wouldn’t exactly say, but the answer is what they put in the Federal Register. That was put there only to help release the funds (Joe Biden, till now, had been hoping to repurpose the money.)
Joe Biden had made a hard campaign promise that not one more mile of wall would be built. So now up to 20 miles more will be built over the course of a few years.
Sammy Finkelman (c5132f) — 10/6/2023 @ 12:17 pm