President Biden's move to resume construction of the border wall - which he vehemently opposed during his campaign - has been met with a barrage of criticism from within his own party.
Leading the charge is New York Democrat, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who demands that Biden "reverse the course" and halt what she deems a "cruel policy".
On Thursday, AOC lambasted the Biden Administration for their decision to bypass 26 federal laws to expedite the construction of new sections of the border wall in Texas, the New York Post reports. This strategy, they argue, is a means to deter migrants from entering the US.
The outspoken congresswoman for Bronx and Queens declared: "The Biden administration was not required to expand construction of the border wall."
She continued, challenging the President to take responsibility for his actions and to chart a new course forward. "The president needs to take responsibility for this decision and reverse the course," AOC added.
Highlighting the ineffectiveness of such barriers, the representative stressed that walls do not deter individuals fleeing hardship and persecution. She argued that such borders only increase the chances of migrant deaths by forcing them to opt for more treacherous routes. "Walls only serve to push migrants into more remote areas, increasing their chances of death. It is a cruel policy," she emphasized.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, the new 20-mile segment is set to be constructed in Starr County, Texas, a popular point of entry for migrants. In this fiscal year alone, a staggering 245,000 individuals have entered the US via this region, per The Post.
Biden’s earlier stance was in stark contrast to that of his predecessor, Donald Trump, whose cornerstone campaign promise was the border wall.
Facing backlash, Biden recently cited legislative constraints for his change in direction, noting that Congress had designated funds for the wall and he couldn't halt its use for that purpose. "The money was appropriated for the border wall," Biden asserted. "I can’t stop that."
However, Ocasio-Cortez isn't the only one challenging Biden.
Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) compared the administration’s recent move to "sticking our heads in the sand," while Mexico's President, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, dubbed it a "setback" that fails to address the root cause of migration.
Simultaneously, there's news of the US resuming the deportation of migrants to Venezuela, a move targeted at reducing the influx of newcomers to cities like New York, Chicago, and Washington.
Despite the uproar, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas remains adamant that this doesn't indicate a policy shift. "From day one, this administration has made clear that a border wall is not the answer," he stated.
Former President Trump, never one to shy away from a chance to weigh in, celebrated the development on Truth Social. He proclaimed: "As I have stated often, over thousands of years, there are only two things that have consistently worked, wheels, and walls!"
He cheekily added, anticipating an apology from Biden: "I will await his apology!"