Homeland Security said in a statement that the waiver signed by Secretary Kristi Noem will “cut through bureaucratic delays” and forego dozens of laws including the National Environmental Policy Act, which requires federal agencies to evaluate the effects of their actions on the environment.
It's the first environmental waiver of President Donald Trump's second term. Officials said the decision will fast-track U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s construction of about 2 1/2 miles of the wall south of San Diego and further east near Jacumba Hot Springs, California.
“This waiver clears the path for the rapid deployment of physical barriers where they are needed most, reinforcing our commitment to national security and the rule of law," the statement said.
Securing the southern border is a top priority for the Trump administration. U.S. Border Patrol Deputy Chief David BeMiller said Tuesday that more than 50 miles of permanent and temporary sections of the wall have been constructed since Trump was inaugurated Jan. 20. The goal is to complete about 1,400 miles of uninterrupted border barrier.
