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.
Results for: Immigration Policy
House Bill 4156, passed by the Oklahoma Legislature, aims to create the crime of “impermissible occupation” and impose penalties on illegal immigrants. The bill has sparked controversy, with a Mexican diplomat expressing concerns that it encourages fear and fails to address the underlying economic needs of the state. The bill awaits Governor Kevin Stitt’s signature to become law.
The UK government’s Rwanda bill, which aims to send asylum seekers to the African country, has been approved by the House of Lords despite facing criticism and legal challenges. The policy is seen as unlikely to gain public favor, with concerns about its effectiveness in addressing the issue of mass legal immigration. The bill is limited to a small number of individuals who arrived in the UK via small boats, and it has been criticized for being harsh and inhumane. Labor’s Shadow Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, argues that the plan is a distraction from addressing the root causes of immigration and is a waste of taxpayers’ money. Ultimately, the Rwanda plan is unlikely to significantly impact the Conservative government’s popularity or the overall immigration issue.
The UK Parliament has passed the Nationality and Borders Bill, allowing the government to send asylum seekers to Rwanda for their claims to be considered. This move has faced opposition in the Houses of Parliament and legal challenges in British courts on human rights grounds. Despite delays and criticism, the bill aims to deter irregular migration into the UK, particularly people traveling on illegal and dangerous small boats from France. However, the government may face further legal challenges in the European Court of Human Rights, as the UK remains a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights.