Democrat activist Beto O’Rourke has condemned President Biden’s decision to continue construction of a wall on the southern border, saying “walls don’t work.” O’Rourke posted a message on Twitter criticizing Biden for breaking his promise never to build a barrier and said there is no distinction between Biden and Trump in this regard. His post was met with near-universal condemnation from social media users. One poster responded by saying, “Walls do work, and Democrats lie.”
The criticism comes as the Biden administration performs a dramatic U-turn and will restart construction of the wall initiated by President Trump. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas posted a notice on the US Federal Registry saying there is an “acute and immediate need” to create a physical barrier at the border to stem the tide of unlawful migration into the United States. Around 20 miles of wall will now be built in Starr County, where some of the highest numbers of crossings occur.
In a statement from the White House, the Biden administration continues to argue that “building a massive wall that spans the entire southern border is not a serious policy solution” while simultaneously declaring that the US has a right to “secure its borders and protect its people against threats.”
In pursuing the new policy, Mayorkas will waive 26 different federal laws, including the Clean Air Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act, prompting criticism from activists and Democrats. Democratic Texas Congressman Henry Cuellar accused the government of wasting money using a “14-century solution for a 21-century problem.”
In response to the about-turn, Donald Trump called on the Biden administration to apologize to him and the American people.
Recent polling shows Trump increasing his lead over Biden, particularly on immigration and crime. For example, 50% of voters believe Republicans are strong on immigration, compared with only 20% who feel the same about Democrats. Almost half trust the GOP to deal with crime effectively, compared to 20% who put their faith in Democrats.
