WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, blasted the Biden Administration after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the cancellation of two border wall construction contracts.
These are the first contracts U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) terminated since DHS released its Plan for Use of Border Barrier Funds, which lays out the guiding principles framing decisions related to border barrier construction, including ending wall expansion to the extent permitted by law.
The contracts being canceled are for approximately 31 miles of border barrier construction funded with the DHS Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 appropriations. Construction has not yet started on the two Laredo Sector projects, and no land acquisition has begun. CBP intends to engage in environmental planning concerning these barrier projects, including taking certain actions consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other statutes.
The Biden Administration continued calling on Congress to cancel remaining border wall funding and instead fund what they say are smarter border security measures, like border technology and modernization of land ports of entry, that, they state, are proven to be more effective at improving safety and security at the border.
Hinson disagreed pointing to the current crisis at the U.S. southern border.
“The border crisis continues to worsen as a result of the Administration’s lax border policies. Last month alone, over 180,000 illegal immigrants were encountered at the Southern Border—more people than the entire population of Cedar Rapids. There is no justification for canceling border wall construction when we need to bolster border security by keeping Title 42 in place, ending catch and release, finishing the border wall, and supporting technology along the border. Instead of doubling down on failed policies that have created the worst illegal immigration crisis in decades, the Administration should reinstate the policies that secure our border, support law enforcement, and keep our communities safe,” she said in a released statement.
