Donald Trump has demanded an apology from President Joe Biden after the current administration waived dozens of federal laws in Texas to allow border wall construction.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump accused Biden of breaking "every environmental law" in the book while sharing an Associated Press article detailing how the Department of Homeland Security deployed executive powers to waive 26 environmental, public health and cultural preservation laws in order to build more border wall in South Texas in an area where illegal migrant crossings have surged this year.
"So interesting to watch Crooked Joe Biden break every environmental law in the book to prove that I was right when I built 560 miles (they incorrectly state 450 in story!) of brand new, beautiful border wall. As I have stated often, over thousands of years, there are only two things that have consistently worked, wheels, and walls!" Trump wrote.
"Will Joe Biden apologize to me and America for taking so long to get moving, and allowing our country to be flooded with 15 million illegals immigrants, from places unknown. I will await his apology."
Trump made building a wall across the entire United States-Mexico border in order to cut down on illegal immigration a key 2016 campaign promise.
The Department of Homeland Security [DHS] said there is an "acute and immediate need" to construct physical barriers in Starr County, Texas, in order to prevent unlawful entries into the U.S. via an October 5 announcement on the U.S. Federal Registry.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas wrote in the document that one area in Rio Grande Valley has been described by Border Patrol as a "high illegal entry" which has seen more than 245,000 attempted illegal crossings so far this year.
"Therefore, DHS will take immediate action to construct barriers and roads. Construction will be funded by a fiscal year 2019 appropriation through which Congress appropriated funds for the construction border barrier in the Rio Grande Valley, and DHS is required to use those funds for their appropriated purpose," Mayorkas wrote.
Among some of the laws being waived in order to allow the construction of the border walls include those under the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.

Laiken Jordahl, a conservation advocate for the Center for Biological Diversity, condemned the move from the Biden administration.
"A plan to build a wall through will bulldoze an impermeable barrier straight through the heart of that habitat. It will stop wildlife migrations dead in their tracks. It will destroy a huge amount of wildlife refuge land. And it's a horrific step backwards for the borderlands," Jordahl told the AP.
Newsweek reached out to the White House via email for comment.
Biden has frequently faced criticism for the record-breaking level of illegal crossings that have occurred at the southern border during his time in the White House.
Republicans have also frequently threatened to launch impeachment hearings against Mayorkas over his handling of the crisis on the border.
On his first day in office in January 2021, Biden ceased production of any walls along the border still in place from the Trump era.
In a June 11, 2021, statement, the White House described Trump's wall, which would cost billions of dollars of taxpayers' money, as "not a serious policy solution or responsible use of Federal funds."
Update 10/05/23, 8:31 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Ewan Palmer is a Newsweek News Reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on US politics, domestic policy ... Read more