Immediate need for border security intensifies; New construction plans revealed
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Nicholas Mayorkas has declared an "acute and immediate need" for the construction of physical barriers and roads along the border of the United States to prevent unlawful entries. In response to this pressing issue, new construction plans have been unveiled, targeting specific areas of the Rio Grande Valley.
On October 5, 2023, Mayorkas authorized the release of construction plans aimed at curbing the surge of unlawful entries into the United States. These plans, made available to the public through the Federal Register, focus on key sections of the Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge and regions near essential highways and crossroads for development.
The Rio Grande Valley Sector has become a hotspot for unauthorized entries into the United States. Data from the U.S. Border Patrol for fiscal year 2023 reveals that over 245,000 illegal entrants were apprehended in the area by early August alone.
The budgetary foundation for this ambitious initiative can be traced back to a 2019 allocation. The strategy aligns with President Biden's Proclamation No. 10142, issued on January 20, 2021. While the proclamation halted the diversion of military project resources to border wall constructions, it supported the use of Congress-sanctioned funds for barrier development, emphasizing their primary purpose.
The Federal Register provides a detailed list of specific Texas sites within the Border Patrol's Rio Grande Valley Sector that have been selected for barrier and road constructions. These sites were chosen based on the alarmingly high instances of illegal entry. They include areas south of Falcon Dam extending southeast, adjacent to several tracts of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge, and near crucial highway intersections such as Perez Road and U.S. Highway 83.
In order to expedite the project, the Department of Homeland Security has decided to bypass certain legalities, including those related to environmental, archaeological, and historical safeguards.
The construction of physical barriers and roads along the border of the United States is seen as a critical step in preventing unlawful entries and enhancing border security. With the new construction plans unveiled, efforts are underway to address the immediate need for increased border protection.
