Biden OKs building a section of border wall – National & International News – THU 5Oct2023

Biden OKs building a section of border wall.

Armed man demanding to see Wisconsin governor arrested, then returns to Capitol with rifle.

NATIONAL NEWS

Biden OKs building a section of border wall

President Biden has approved the construction of 17 miles of barriers along the border, reversing his previous rejection of one of former President Trump’s signature policies. These will be 18-foot portable sections, lower than the 30 ft-high walls built during the Trump administration. The new sections are in Starr County, TX, and are not continuous. Some of the work will include finishing off previously uncompleted sections and site clean-up at abandoned construction sites.

The administration has sent some mixed messages about why they are moving forward with construction now. In comments to reporters, Biden said that he doesn’t believe that border walls were an effective solution, but also said that his hands were tied because Congress had appropriated money for construction during the Trump administration and had not rescinded or reappropriated it. Meanwhile, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said, “there is presently an acute and immediate need to construct physical barriers”.

Deportation flights of some Venezuelans to resume, days after they others received protected status

In a related and similarly confusing development, the administration also announced today that it would be resuming deportation flights for Venezuelan migrants. This applies to Venezuelans who arrived into the US through Mexico after July 31, this year.

Just two weeks ago, the administration extended temporary protected status (TPS) to about 470,000 Venezuelans who’d arrived in the US on or before July 31. That announcement brought the total number of Venezuelans with TPS in the US to about 700,000. TPS allows migrants to remain in the US for about 18 months (though it can be extended) on the premise that it would be unsafe for them to return to their country of origin.

At the time of the TPS extension, the White House said it was necessary “because extraordinary and temporary conditions continue to prevent Venezuelan nationals from returning in safety”.

When the deportations of more recent arrivals were announced today, DHS head Mayorkas addressed this contradiction, saying, “we have made a determination it is safe to return Venezuelan nationals who arrived in the United States subsequent to July 31 and do not have a legal basis to remain here”.

No one has offered an explanation about why it is safe for post-July 31 arrivals to return to Venezuela but not for pre-July 31 arrivals.

Armed man demanding to see Wisconsin governor arrested, then returns to Capitol with rifle

Around 2pm yesterday, a shirtless man with a holstered handgun entered the Capitol building in Madison, WI, and demanded to see Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. The man was taken into custody and booked at the Dane County jail. It is illegal to carry a firearm into the Capitol building unless it is concealed and you have a concealed carry permit. The shirtless man did not have a concealed carry permit.

After posting bail, the man returned to the Capitol around 9pm, this time with an assault rifle. He did not gain entry to the Capitol this time because it closes to the public at 6pm. The man again demanded to see Gov. Evers and was again taken into custody. Madison police say the man was then “taken into protective custody and conveyed to a local hospital”.

It’s not clear if Gov. Evers was present at the Capitol during either of these incidents. However, he had been present earlier in the day to meet with constituents about a series of bills being debated. The man with the gun reportedly told Capitol police he wanted to speak to Evers about “domestic abuse against men”.

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