Ten billion dollars have been approved for President Donald Trump’s promised border wall. The money have been approved by the House Homeland Security Committee and there is a possibility that the bill could be attached to the debated legislation for replacement of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), created by former President Barack Obama.
Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul said “We have been talking about border security for many years. Now that we finally have a partner in the White House who has prioritized this issue, it’s time for Congress to do its part and get the job done.” He added that he’s looking forward to working with his colleagues to get the bill to the president’s desk. According to him, all of that is about protecting the Americans.
“The Committee passed legislation that will protect our homeland by strengthening the security of our borders,” McCaul added in his statement.
He considers the move as a 21st century approach. “This is a 21st Century, multi-layered approach, which authorizes 10 billion dollars for the construction of a border wall, 5 billion dollars for the modernization of our ports of entry, provides other tactical infrastructure and cutting-edge technology, puts more boots on the ground, and better empowers the Department of Homeland Security’s Secretary to take other necessary actions to secure the border,” McCaul said.
The Hill reports that the provision funding the construction of the wall is part of a border security spending proposal that will reimburse states for up to 35 million dollars for their costs of using National Guard troops to supplement border security efforts in their state. Five more billion dollars are included for increasing the security on the entrances along the border.
In the meantime, the Democrats are not happy with the committee’s decision. Democrat, Representative Bennie Thompson even wanted to change the name of the bill to “Taking Americans’ Land to Build Trump’s Wall Act of 2017,” but he didn’t succeed.
The Democrats are worried that the bill is aimed at connecting the border security to some type of replacement program for DACA.
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