In the waning days of the Biden administration, officials are reportedly working behind the scenes to dispose of unused materials from the southern border wall by auctioning them off. This move has been criticized by some lawmakers, who see it as an attempt to thwart President-elect Donald Trump’s plans to fortify the US-Mexico border.
A video recorded by a US Customs and Border Protection agent shows multiple flatbed trucks removing sections of the steel barrier near Tucson, Arizona, an area known for frequent illegal crossings, according to The Daily Wire. The agent, speaking anonymously, claimed that approximately half a mile of wall components is being dismantled and hauled away each day. “They are taking it from three sections: Nogales, Tucson, and Three Points,” the agent said. “The goal is to move all of it off the border before [Dec. 25].”
The dismantled materials are being transported to Pinal Airpark in Marana, Arizona, where they are listed for sale on GovPlanet, an online platform that specializes in selling surplus military items. The auction starts with bids as low as $5.
Some of these auctions for the wall sections—described as “Steel Bollard Wall Sections w/Grout”—have already taken place this month, with another one scheduled for Dec. 18. These materials have been sitting idle since President Biden halted construction of the border wall shortly after his inauguration in 2021. His administration also reversed Trump-era immigration policies, a decision that Republicans argue contributed to a dramatic increase in illegal crossings and unaccompanied minors entering the US.
Lawmakers have pointed out that up to $300 million worth of taxpayer-funded wall materials has gone unused since Biden took office. They have strongly criticized the administration for exacerbating the ongoing border crisis.
“The Biden Administration is well aware they shouldn’t have reversed the construction of the border wall,” Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ) told The Daily Wire. “If it’s true, they’re purposefully hamstringing an incoming president, it wouldn’t be shocking. Why would they want to see President Trump succeed with policies they aggressively sabotaged.”
This isn’t the first time the administration has sold off the unused materials. Similar auctions were held last August. Now, some lawmakers view these efforts as a deliberate obstacle to President-elect Trump’s plans to enhance border security.
Trump has consistently emphasized that securing the border will be a primary focus of his presidency when he takes office in January. His strategy includes resuming construction of the border wall and implementing a large-scale deportation initiative targeting individuals with criminal convictions.
Building “an impenetrable, physical, tall, power, beautiful southern border wall” was a key promise of Trump’s successful 2016 presidential campaign. During his first term, he allocated $15 billion to build approximately 450 miles of barriers, with another 250 miles under development by the time he left office.
“When Trump comes back, and he wants to start the border wall all over again, the whole entire funding fight is gonna happen again,” the border patrol agent explained. “That’s their play. He’s gonna have to fight for this — again.”
{Matzav.com}