President Joe Biden confirmed his administration’s decision to proceed with about 20 miles of new U.S.-Mexico border wall construction. The president clarified that the funds for the project were already earmarked during the Trump era, and Congress had mandated their use for this purpose.
While acknowledging the decision, Biden admitted he doesn’t believe the walls are an effective solution for curbing illegal immigration. However, the news comes amid rising pressure on Biden to manage the escalating migrant influx and requests from various U.S. cities for federal aid in handling growing migrant populations.
The decision has been met with swift criticism from immigrant advocates, including Mexican President López Obrador, who viewed it as a setback and an inconsistent stance from a president who once halted the use of emergency funds for the wall.
The Department of Homeland Security, however, reaffirmed that its core position remains unchanged: a border wall isn’t the definitive solution.
Click play to listen to the report from AURN White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris. For more news, follow @E_N_McMorris & @aurnonline.