On Thursday, Arizona Democrat Senator Mark Kelly announced the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would complete a key section of the U.S.-Mexico border wall begun during the Trump administration. (RELATED: DC Mayor Calls for National Guard to Address Migrants Transferred to Capital)
DHS will reportedly fill a gap in Yuma known as the Morelos Dam, which has become a popular illegal immigrant crossing.
“For too long, the Morelos Dam area has been an operational challenge for Border Patrol agents to properly secure the border and keep our communities safe,” Kelly said in a statement. “I'm glad that the Department of Homeland Security has listened to Arizona and is going to close these gaps. This is a step forward and I'll keep working to ensure that Arizona has the tools needed for a secure and orderly process at the border including fencing and barriers where they make sense.” (RELATED: Texas Counties Declare a Border ‘Invasion' of Illegal Migrants – Governor Acts)
Sen. Kelly's request to complete the border wall section comes after he voted three separate times to defund the construction of the wall and called the wall a “17th-century solution” to illegal immigration in 2020.
“I would not provide a 17th-century solution to this,” Kelly said.
“To build a wall for 2,000 miles of border, $20 million a mile, those resources could be used for the technology, it could be used for more Border Patrol agents on the border, these are … there are smart ways to address this,” Kelly continued. (RELATED: Senators Announce Bipartisan Gun Deal)
However, the Democrat has been urging Biden to address the crisis in Yuma since December 2021.
On Feb. 5, 2021, Sen. Kelly voted against an amendment to prohibit the Biden administration from canceling border wall contracts.
On May 20, 2021, Sen. Kelly voted against an amendment to prohibit canceling border wall contracts for which funds had already been appropriated.
On Aug. 4, 2021, Sen. Kelly once again voted against an amendment to prohibit canceling border wall contracts for which funds had already been appropriated.
Local officials have praised the decision to complete the section of the border wall.
“Border Patrol agents fight every single day to secure our southern border, but the gaps near the Morelos Dam continued to put that work at risk,” said Yuma Mayor Douglas Nicholls. “I want to thank Senator Kelly for working with me and other community leaders by forcing action to close these gaps. This is an important first step to getting this border crisis under control, supporting our law enforcement, and keeping border communities safe.”
The DHS decision to complete part of the Trump-era border wall comes amid record-setting migrant encounters at the border.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection's June Operational Report recorded a record number of 207,416 encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border, including a record amount of terrorist sightings. June marked the fourth consecutive month of more than 200,000 encounters.
With June's figures, there have now been 1,746,119 total encounters at the southern border in the 2022 fiscal year.
Kelly, a vulnerable first-term senator, is facing an intense reelection battle. Republican frontrunner Blake Masters faces stiff competition, including Republican Attorney General Mark Brnovich, in the GOP Senate primary next week for a chance to flip the seat.
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Now do the whole wall OK
Absolutely! It’s almost too late.
Put commi joe on the other side first. Then finish the wall
Corruption at the highest post in the land by none other then the big guy, Aiding abetting legal doctrine related to the guilt of someone who aids or abets incites another in the commission of a crime, is a crime even if they are not principal offender. one hundred fifty suspicious federal crimes reported by banks, sweep away by biden crime family.
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Kelly knows he is in deep trouble, the only reason he has made the reversal.
Crooked politicians like Kelly will lie, cheat, and steal, to get elected, Then if reelected will throw Americans under the bus again. Toss this BUM out!
Kelly must be up for re-election. That’s the only incentive powerful enough for Progressive Socialists to allow common sense to interfere with the Marxist agenda.
Let’s go, Brandon! Remember in November; stop the madness.
If the voters reelect Kelly they will find that left wing liberal democrats will change back to their normal selves and do everything they can get away with destroying our republic. If we are to survive as a nation then we must purge all of them from our government, and continue doing that until we have gotten rid of all of them.
I guess that makes these two democrats racist like Trump, right? Ridiculous
Well, it is far past time for the Biden Administration to put a stop to the stupid plan he put into place just to do the opposite of anything Trump wanted. How childish was this game of his and look where it has taken the people of America.
“ruining America” is NOT a stupid game, FJB
Senator Mark Kelly = HYPOCRITE!!!! What an idiot! Now that he’s being criticized and possibly losing votes. EV of his illogical stand on border serges, now he’s crying to build the 17th century wall? No words to describe his hypocrisy!
The words that come to my mind are ” Throw the BUM OUT!”
Yup…I new this would come back and sting the senator right square in the A$$..he deserves to be fired!..He put millions of americans at risk along with that squad leader that has dementia that supposedly is potus.
Kelly does not in any way represent the interests of AS. Ha d he not married Giffords, he would never have set foot here 17tth century my ass. stupid libtard has head so far u Biden and Shumers asses he can’ see daylight. He’s an outsider, a carpet bagger and a traitor. He has to go in November.