Panhandle Times

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Nathaniel Moran (TX-01) and 24 members of the Texas delegation have written a letter to the Biden administration, pressing for more information regarding the decision to continue border barrier construction. The delegation raises concerns about the effectiveness of building a new border wall in Starr County, Texas, where there have not been recent surges in migration.

"While the continued building of the southern border wall is a welcome development – as more than 6 million migrants have been encountered at our border since Biden took office… local officials in Starr County have noted that a new border wall in the county is unlikely to have an impact – at least in the short term – because they have not experienced recent surges in migration," the delegation wrote.

The delegation questions why the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would choose to restart border wall construction in Starr County, even waiving 26 federal laws to do so, instead of focusing on other sectors or counties along the border. They believe that the American people deserve to know the extent of the executive branch's border security decisions and the motivations behind them.

Earlier this year, the Republican-led House passed H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act of 2023, which is considered the toughest border security legislation passed by the House of Representatives. This comprehensive bill reinstates many Trump-era policies, including the restart of border wall construction and the "Remain in Mexico" policy to discourage illegal migration.

The letter was led by Representative Chip Roy (TX-21) and co-signed by several other representatives from Texas, including Congressman Nathaniel Moran. It was also co-signed by Representatives Michael Burgess (TX-26), Jake Ellzey (TX-6), Michael Cloud (TX-27), Lance Gooden (TX-5), Brian Babin (TX-36), Pat Fallon (TX-4), Ronny Jackson (TX-13), Beth Van Duyne (TX-24), Keith Self (TX-3), Monica De La Cruz (TX-15), Michael McCaul (TX-10), Randy Weber (TX-14), Dan Crenshaw (TX-2), August Pfluger (TX-11), John Carter (TX-31), Troy Nehls (TX-22), Roger Williams (TX-25), Pete Sessions (TX-17), Wesley Hunt (TX-38), Morgan Lutrell (TX-8), Jodey Arrington (TX-19), and Kay Granger (TX-12).

The full letter can be read here. The Texas delegation is urging the Biden administration to provide more information about its decision to continue border wall construction and to clarify the motivations behind it.

Click this link to access more information: https://moran.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=234