Washington, D.C. — This week, U.S. Representative Barry Moore (AL-02) joined Rep. Doug Lamborn (CO-05) and 20 of their colleagues in sending a letter to President Biden regarding Presidential Proclamation 10142, which halted construction of the southern border wall. A recent report suggests the Biden administration is wasting at least $2 billion in taxpayer dollars to pay contractors to not build the wall. "Illegal border encounters continue to surpass previous record highs, but Biden is wasting billions of taxpayer dollars on paying contractors not to work - while piles of steel fencing rust in the desert,” said Moore. “This willful negligence and fiscal irresponsibility only fuels the fire of chaos burning at our southern border and is a grave threat to American national security. We must resume construction of the border wall, secure the southern border, enforce existing immigration laws, and put the American people first.” Background: On his first day in office, President Biden issued Presidential Proclamation 10142, which stopped the construction of the wall along the southern border. According to a recent report from the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Government Operations and Border Management, at least $2 billion in taxpayer dollars have been spent on Department of Defense contractors to not build the border wall. The study found that in the period immediately following President Biden’s proclamation, contractors were being paid $6 million per day to not work. Under the Biden administration, startling statistics reveal chaos at our southern border: - Last month, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) stopped 188,829 illegal immigrants at the border - the highest number seen in 21 years and a 471% increase from June of last year.
- Over 1 million illegal immigrants have crossed the southern border so far this year - a 362% increase from the same time frame last year.
- 34% of migrants encountered in June 2021 had at least one prior encounter with CBP in the last 12 months.
- Since January 2021, 18,630 individuals with criminal convictions or those wanted by law enforcement have been arrested trying to illegally cross the border.
Read the letter HERE. ### |
