The Facts
- The US Government Accountability Office on Thursday released a report detailing how construction of a wall on the US-Mexico border during former Pres. Donald Trump’s term disturbed Native American burial grounds and caused other damage.
- The first independent assessment of the damage caused by the 450 miles (724 km) of wall being built — after in-depth environment reviews were reportedly waived and Native American tribes’ concerns were mostly ignored — also described the toppling of saguaro cactuses in Arizona and the threatening of endangered ocelots in Texas.
- The 72-page report covers a period from 2017 through January 2021. During this time the federal government relied on national security concerns to move construction forward by waiving existing protections on the lands and wildlife.
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The Spin
Democratic narrative
It's heartbreaking that this inhumane wall caused so much damage while doing nothing to address illegal immigration and smuggling at the border. Continuing to build the wall would make this disaster even worse. That’s why Trump, who has vowed to complete the wall if he returns to the White House, must never get that chance. This has done enough damage to vulnerable people and the environment.
Republican narrative
If the southern border wall deterred any illegal immigration or foiled a cartel’s plans, it was worth putting up as much as was built – even if there were some minor environmental impacts. Biden’s pause on construction is making things worse while making the US less safe. The wall should be completed for urgent national security reasons.
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