Thompson to DHS: Don’t Abuse Waiver Law to Rush Border Wall
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to Acting Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke regarding news that former Secretary John Kelly signed a waiver before leaving DHS designed to disregard certain environmental laws to push forward construction of President Trump’s border wall mandated by Executive Order 13767.
Ranking Member Thompson released the following statement along with the letter:
“Congress gave waiver authority to the Homeland Security Secretary in 2005 with the intention that it was to be used to advance projects delayed indefinitely by litigation – not to waive laws arbitrarily to rush construction. It is unfortunate that Secretary Kelly signed this waiver two days before he left DHS, without explanation of its rushed necessity. Given the substantial impact these construction projects have on communities and the environment along the border, the Department should not ignore its obligation to follow the law and commitment to due diligence.”
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