The contracts for the Laredo sector initiatives lined round 31 miles of border barrier development and had been funded with DHS fiscal 12 months 2020 appropriations. Development had not but began.
“CBP intends to have interaction in environmental planning regarding these barrier initiatives, together with taking sure actions according to the Nationwide Environmental Coverage Act (NEPA) and different statues,” DHS stated in a press release, including that the division continues to evaluate all different paused border barrier initiatives.
Since 2019, greater than 340 miles have been in-built a number of places alongside the border utilizing Pentagon funds, in keeping with US Customs and Border Safety. And roughly 52 miles had been constructed the place no barrier beforehand existed. Some wall segments value as much as $46 million per mile, in keeping with the White Home.
The US Military Corps of Engineers can also be within the strategy of canceling 20 contracts for development of the southern border wall.
DHS is utilizing already-appropriated funds to handle environmental points stemming from the Trump administration’s wall development and for development clear up. The division can also be reviewing the standing of land seizure instances for wall development, in addition to land acquired in earlier years, to evaluate whether or not these properties are nonetheless obligatory.
Biden’s fiscal 12 months 2022 finances proposal included greater than $1 billion for border infrastructure, like know-how, however no extra funding for border wall development.