Biden’s “Proclamation on the Termination of Emergency with Respect to the Southern Border of the United States and Redirection of Funds Diverted to Border Wall Construction” effectively cuts short the efforts of the Trump administration to plug the holes in our porous 1,954 mile southern border which allow thousands of immigrants to enter the United States illegally.  

The proclamation serves to formally end the declared emergency which allowed the Trump Administration to divert funds from other areas of the government’s budget ($601 million from the Treasury Forfeiture Fund, up to $2.5 billion under the Department of Defense funds transferred for Support for Counterdrug Activities, and an up to $3.6 billion reallocation from the Department of Defense military construction projects) to fund, given Congress’ reticence to do so, the building of new, and refurbishment of existing, border wall.

The fact is that, according to the Federation for Immigration Reform, in 1996  a majority Democrat Congress mandated the construction of a 14-mile, triple-layered fence along the boundary between San Diego and Tijuana as part of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA). Only nine miles of fencing were completed by 2004.  A Democrat controlled Congress then passed the Secure Fence Act of 2006, which called for a double-layered fence along the border, to be augmented by manpower and technology.  It also directed the Secretary of Homeland Security to construct “reinforced fencing along not fewer than 700  miles of the southwest border, in locations where fencing is deemed most practical and effective.”

When Trump took office some 700 miles of barrier had, in fact, been installed. This included 353 miles of Primary Pedestrian Fencing, 36 miles of Secondary Fencing, 14 miles of Tertiary Pedestrian Fencing, and 300 miles of Vehicle Fencing.

As a result of his declared emergency, Trump was able to build or refurbish some 450 miles of border wall.

Biden’s reason for stopping the renovation or building of the wall is that it is not a serious policy solution.   This conclusion flies in the face of the legislative action by prior Democratic Administrations cited above.

Yet Biden has offered no counter policy solutions.

Instead he announced a 100-day moratorium on deportations and an indication that he will seek to give amnesty to all resident illegal aliens, giving birth to a new onslaught of immigrant caravans from the Northern Triangle.

The only effective policy solution is strict enforcement of the immigration laws on the books. Anything less by the President of the United States is a betrayal of his oath of office.