Environment & Energy
Related: About this forumBiden Waiving 26 Laws to Rush Border Wall through Texas Wildlife Refuge
STARR COUNTY, Texas The Biden administration announced today that for the first time it will waive environmental, public health and cultural resource protection laws to fast-track construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall in Texas. The administration says it will take immediate action to construct barriers and roads along the border, including through the fragile Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge and neighboring lands.
Its disheartening to see President Biden stoop to this level, casting aside our nations bedrock environmental laws to build ineffective wildlife-killing border walls, said Laiken Jordahl, Southwest conservation advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity.Starr County is home to some of the most spectacular and biologically important habitat left in Texas and now bulldozers are preparing to rip right through it. This is a horrific step backwards for the borderlands.
The waiver sweeps aside 26 laws that protect clean air, clean water, public lands, endangered wildlife and Indigenous grave sites. The announcement marks the first time the Biden administration has used the REAL ID Act waiver authority.
Every acre of habitat left in the Rio Grande Valley is irreplaceable, said Jordahl. We cant afford to lose more of it to a useless, medieval wall that wont do a thing to stop immigration or smuggling. President Bidens cynical decision to destroy a wildlife refuge and seal the beautiful Rio Grande behind a grotesque border wall must be stopped.
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2023/10/biden-waiving-26-laws-to-rush-border.html
Magoo48
(4,717 posts)Bad fucking idea. Not a good look.
Lonestarblue
(10,030 posts)the river. Trying to build huge walls on shifting ground is a waste of money. I havent seen anything showing the path of the wall, but I know that proposed walls in other parts of Texas have been in the courts for years because they would abandon some citizens on the Mexico side of the wall, either forcing them to leave homes they cant sell or travel miles to get through a border checkpoint. Its hard to build a heavy wall on a shifting riverbank, so the solution has been to build it a few miles inland, thus cutting off people. Im sad about this decision. It seems more political than a real solution to anything.
Think. Again.
(8,228 posts)...to wonder what is REALLY behind this.
It makes no sense on any level.
Think. Again.
(8,228 posts)With an election coming up and serious concerns about our dire ecological situation, this is a big mistake.
I know folks here on DU will get all bent out of shape when the peaceful demonstrations start about this, but anyone can see them coming after this.
Response to douglas9 (Original post)
Post removed
snowybirdie
(5,231 posts)For years we were told the walls didn't work. We need a better explanation of why the sudden policy change. I trust Bide , but would like to know
Lulu KC
(2,571 posts)ratchiweenie
(7,754 posts)MOMFUDSKI
(5,584 posts)I am thinking Biden is fully aware of the hatred the rethugs have for the brown-skins coming north and with this move he can mollify some of them into believing FINALLY they are being stopped by BOTH SIDES. Political chess? I trust Biden.
Think. Again.
(8,228 posts)...I guess, in realty, green voters aren't gonna vote for anyone else so maybe he thinks it's safe.
Still, he really shouldn't be going anti-environment for any reason, his whole first campaign was built on climate change.
Lulu KC
(2,571 posts)There has to be a reason for this. I pulled up some local newspapers near the site and several months ago a deal was cut to provide wildlife access points in the wall. I wonder if that is true of the newly extended wall.
I want to hear from Joe on this. Too weird.