Mark Morgan, former acting CBP Commissioner under President Trump, predicts a swift and aggressive approach to border security in a potential second Trump administration. He anticipates leveraging existing infrastructure, legal frameworks, and policies, while advocating for a whole-of-government effort and potentially even a national emergency declaration to accelerate wall construction and immigration enforcement.
In a significant move to bolster border security, Texas has purchased a 1,400-acre ranch in Starr County, a region known for high levels of illegal border crossings, human trafficking, and smuggling. This acquisition will allow the state to continue building its own border wall, a project initiated by Governor Greg Abbott in response to the Biden administration’s halting of the Trump-era wall construction. Texas officials are confident that this new section of wall, along with other measures taken by the state, will effectively curb illegal border crossings and protect the safety of the region.
Arizona rancher Jim Chilton is furious with the Biden administration’s decision to halt construction of the border wall, saying it has led to a surge in illegal crossings on his property. Chilton, who owns a massive cattle ranch along the U.S.-Mexico border, has witnessed a dramatic increase in migrants crossing his land since the wall construction was stopped in 2021. He claims to have caught over 3,500 suspected illegal immigrants on camera and expressed concern over the potential for dangerous encounters with individuals attempting to evade detection.
A government watchdog’s report revealed that hundreds of millions of dollars allocated for the construction of the US-Mexico border wall remain unspent. Despite congressional approval, the Biden administration has significantly slowed construction efforts. The report concluded that the administration has not violated the Impoundment and Control Act by blocking funds, but Republicans argue it circumvents accountability. DHS has yet to comment on the matter.
The Biden administration has been accused of using taxpayer dollars meant for a border wall to fund environmental projects, according to a new report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The GAO investigation, initiated by Republican Reps. Jack Bergman of Michigan and Jodey Arrington of Texas, found that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) used congressionally-appropriated funds for the wall to pay for environmental planning and efforts to mitigate environmental damage from past border wall construction. The Biden administration has maintained that it is not violating the law, as the funds were appropriated for border security purposes and the environmental projects are related to border security. However, Republicans argue that the administration is misusing the funds and diverting them from their intended purpose.
