Texas governor vows to continue border wall construction

Dive Quick:

• As part of a new comprehensive safety strategy to crack down on unlawful border crossings, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced very last 7 days that he designs to increase the wall together the state’s border with Mexico.
• The governor said the condition will take “decisive action” to develop the barrier and that much more aspects will be provided this 7 days. 
• Abbott mentioned he designs to correct more than $1 billion for his new security measures, which also consist of rising detention facility ability and the creation of a job force on border security. Abbott and Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey are also searching for sources these as drones, helicopters and guidance from law enforcement officers in other states. 

Dive Insight:

It can be unclear whether or not Abbott has the authority to create a wall on his state’s southern border, according to NBC News. Whilst some of the land is owned by the federal and point out governments, substantially is also non-public property, which was an obstacle that former President Donald Trump faced in his initiatives to construct a wall.

Nevertheless, Abbott claimed that action is needed to address what he called a humanitarian crisis in the state. In new months the movement of migrants across the U.S. border has risen sharply, in accordance to U.S. News & Planet Report.

“Though securing the border is the federal government’s responsibility, Texas will not sit idly by as this crisis grows,” Abbott stated. “This is an unprecedented crisis, and Texas is responding with the most strong and detailed border system the country has at any time found.”

President Joe Biden’s administration has designed stopping border wall development a precedence given that the early times of his presidency.

Only a several hours immediately after Biden was sworn in, he rescinded Trump’s nationwide crisis declaration, which was employed to redirect Pentagon funds to border wall design, and gave contractors seven times to prevent all border wall construction, like those people initiatives that were recipients of direct funding, not just revenue diverted from the navy, even though the buy manufactured exceptions for emergencies and other urgent situations.

“Like just about every country, the United States has a proper and a responsibility to secure its borders and safeguard its people towards threats,” Biden’s proclamation said. “But making a enormous wall that spans the complete southern border is not a serious policy resolution. It is a squander of funds that diverts awareness from real threats to our homeland safety.”