President
Donald Trump will be able to order the construction of a wall on the Mexico
border Wednesday with the stroke of a pen, because of a 2006 law passed with
the help of Democrats including Barack Obama, Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton.
The
2006 law authorized the construction of 700 miles of fencing along the southern
border, as well as additional lights, cameras and sensors to enhance security.
Although former President George W. Bush signed the
measure into law, the Democrat-controlled Congress that took over a
few months later ensured it would
never be completed by
means of an amendment to a 2008 spending bill.
The
amendment removed an explicit requirement the wall be made of double-layer
fencing, and gave the Department of Homeland Security authority
to put in place less effective barriers, such as simple vehicle barriers
that do not keep pedestrians out. As a result, Democrats were able to avoid a
politically unpopular vote against the wall, and then turn around and quietly
gut its construction. But Trump and Republicans in the new Congress now plan to
use that law to ensure a proper wall is constructed.
Since
the law was never actually repealed, the federal government is still authorized
to build a substantial wall on the southern border. Congress doesn’t have to
pass a new law to begin construction, and can instead package the funds
necessary into a massive spending bill Democrats would have a politically hard
time opposing. Trump may get a head start on the process by diverting
other funds congressional leaders have indicated are available for the project,
ensuring a snafu over the spending bill doesn’t hinder prompt construction of
the wall.
In
addition to then Sens. Obama, Biden and Clinton, 64 House Democrats and 23
Senate Democrats voted for the wall in 2006. Many of them are still in
Congress, including newly-established Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Other
Democrats in the Senate who voted for the wall in 2006 are Sens. Barbara Boxer
(CA), Sherrod Brown (OH — then in the House), Tom Carper (DE), Dianne Feinstein
(CA), Barbara Mikulski (MD), Bill Nelson (FL), Debbie Stabenow (MI), and Ron
Wyden (OR).
There
are also a number of Democrat representatives still in the House who voted for
the bill: Sanford Bishop (GA), Corrine Brown (FL), Michael Capuano (MA), Jim
Cooper (TN), Jim Costa (CA), Peter DeFazio (OR), Steve Israel (NY), Ron Kind
(WI), Daniel Lipinski (IL), Stephen Lynch (MA), Carolyn Maloney (NY), Bill
Pascrell Jr. (NJ), Collin Peterson (MN), C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (MD), Tim
Ryan (OH), and Adam Smith (WA).
Former
Democrat Rep. Barney Frank and now-disgraced former Democrat Rep. Anthony
Weiner also voted for the bill.
President-elect
Donald Trump made the construction of a “real” wall along the entire 2,000-mile
stretch of the southern border with Mexico a central part of his campaign. He
has said the “beautiful” wall will be from 35 to 50 feet high and made of
pre-cast concrete.
“I
would build a great wall, and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me,
and I’ll build them very inexpensively,” he said in his speech announcing his
candidacy for the presidency. “I will build a great, great wall on our southern
border. And I will have Mexico pay for that wall. Mark my words.” Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience.
