WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) announced the introduction of H.R. 163, the Finish the Wall Act, which would resume construction of the border wall system.
During President Trump’s first term, 458 miles of border wall system were completed, with hundreds of miles fully funded but not constructed. However, on January 20, 2021, the Biden administration signed an executive order that immediately halted construction of the border wall, left our nation vulnerable, and led to increased illegal crossings.
The Finish the Wall Act would:
- Resume border wall construction within 24 hours of enactment
- Prevent the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary from canceling any construction contracts entered before January 20, 2021
- Requires the DHS Secretary to delegate all funds appropriated or obligated to finish the wall system since Fiscal Year 2017
- Direct the DHS Secretary to submit an implementation plan to Congress, including benchmarks for the deployment and cost estimates of physical barriers, technology, roads, and lighting
- Ensure U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) are compliant with the DNA Fingerprint Act of 2005 at all border facilities
Read the legislation here.
“When I first introduced this legislation in the 115th Congress, President Trump’s border policies were squared away. We had control of our border, and the cartels’ human and drug trafficking were operating at manageable levels,” said Congressman Higgins. “On January 20, 2021, the Biden administration ceded operational control of our southern border to the cartels. Our nation has witnessed four years of chaos, and we must restore the sovereignty of our southern border. I look forward to working with President Trump to finish the border wall, deport criminal illegal aliens, and secure our nation.”
