A political refugee born in Havana, Cuba, Mayorkas is the first Latino and immigrant confirmed to serve as Secretary of Homeland Security.
Today, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas released the following statement on recent news reports:
“I want to address today’s reporting relating to a border wall and be absolutely clear. There is no new Administration policy with respect to border walls. From day one, this Administration has made clear that a border wall is not the answer. That remains our position and our position has never wavered. The language in the Federal Register notice is being taken out of context and it does not signify any change in policy whatsoever.
“The construction project reported today was appropriated during the prior administration in 2019 and the law requires the government to use these funds for this purpose, which we announced earlier this year. We have repeatedly asked Congress to rescind this money but it has not done so and we are compelled to follow the law.
“This Administration believes that effective border security requires a smarter and more comprehensive approach, including state-of the-art border surveillance technology and modernized ports of entry. We need Congress to give us the funds to implement these proven tools.”
About 20 miles of border wall will be built using the funds.
In response, The ACLU snorted, “President Biden ran on the campaign promise of no bans, no wall. Now, he’s said yes to an extreme asylum ban and yes to expediting construction of a dangerous and ineffective border wall in Texas. It’s a profound betrayal.”