On January 20, 2021, President Biden issued the Proclamation on the Termination of Emergency With Respect to the Southern Border of the United States and Redirection of Funds Diverted to Border Wall Construction. His Proclamation effectively stops construction on the border wall by revoking President Trump’s Proclamation 9844 – Declaring a National Emergency Concerning the Southern Border of the United States.  

Proclamation 9844 had declared a “national emergency” on the southern border and directed federal funds to the construction of a border wall between Mexico and the United States. It was intended to “deploy all lawful means to secure the Nation’s southern border, to prevent further illegal immigration into the United Sates, and to repatriate illegal aliens swiftly, consistently and humanely.”  President Trump’s Order reflected his administration’s view that the mere entry of undocumented immigrants without inspection is “a significant threat to national security and safety.”   

President Biden’s rationale for revoking the Trump Order is that while “the United States has a right and a duty to secure its borders and protect its people against threats … building a massive wall that spans the entire southern border is not a serious policy solution.  It is a waste of money that diverts attention from genuine threats to our homeland security.” Instead, Biden is committed to a solution that involves a comprehensive and humane immigration system. As indicated in the proclamation, “It shall be the policy of my Administration that no more American taxpayer dollars be diverted to construct a border wall. I am also directing a careful review of all resources appropriated or redirected to construct a southern border wall.”  

President Biden’s Proclamation also directs the Secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, to cease work on all construction projects on the southern border wall, to assess the legality of the funding and contracting methods used to construct the wall, and to assess the administrative and contractual consequences of ceasing each wall construction project.  

Foster will continue to monitor developments in connection with the new administration’s immigration policies and will make future updates available on our firm’s website at www.fosterglobal.com.