A waiver from the US Ministry of Homeland Protection enables the Federal Government to avoid environmental regulations and start building in order to increase more obstacles along the border between the USA and Mexico in Southern California, even if the illegal intersections have dropped.
Homeland Security said in an explanation that the renunciation of secretary Kristi Noem would “do bureaucratic delays”. Environmentalists condemned the step that will do without dozens of laws, including the National Environmental Policy Act, according to which the federal authorities have to assess the effects of their measures on the environment.
It is the first environmental waiver of President Donald Trump's second term. Officials said that the decision would build the construction of the US customs and border protection of around 2 1/2 miles (4 kilometers) of the wall about 113 kilometers southeast of San Diego near Jacumba Hot Springs, California.
The area calmed down this year after thousands of migrants had gone through a small passage where the border fence ends. These figures were dropped sharply last year after the Mexican authorities strengthened the enforcement and President Joe Biden introduced serious asylum restrictions in June.
Arrests fell even further after Trump was sworn in on January 20 and granted a number of instructions for immigration.
“This waiver clears the way for the quick use of physical obstacles, where they are most needed and increases our commitment to national security and the rule of law,” the explanation said.
Shelby Bremer from NBC 7 explains that the rapid decline of President Trump's falls corresponds to President Trump on immigration and border.
The Advocacy Group Earthjustice mocked the decision to avoid environmental laws and called it a waste of money that only causes more damage to the area's ecosystem, which includes a hotspot of biological diversity with numerous endemics.
“If you forego environmental, cultural maintenance and good governance laws that protect clean air and clean water, protect precious cultural resources and receive lively ecosystems and biological diversity, only another damage to border communities and ecosystems is added,” said Cameron Walkup, an associated legal representative for Earthjustice, said in an explanation.
The securing of the southern border is a top priority for the Trump administration. The deputy head of the US border patrol, David Bemiller, said on Tuesday that more than 81 kilometers of permanent and temporary wall had been built on January 20. The goal is to complete about 1,400 miles (2,250 kilometers) of uninterrupted border barriers.
Bemiller estimated that the officers had arrested around 220 people a day due to illegal crossings from Mexico.