THIS IS INFURIATING: Capitol Police Announce Plan To Build ‘Permanent’ Fence Around Capitol Hill One Day After Joe Biden Orders Stop To All Southern Border Wall Construction
Officials want a “permanent” security wall built around the US Capitol to protect Congressional members following the chaos that erupted at the nation’s capital on January 6.
Acting US Capitol Police (USCP) Chief Yogananda Pittman said the security at the Capitol Hill must include a “permanent fencing” barrier to replace the current barbed wire fencing surrounding the Capitol which was put up to keep the public out of certain areas to secure the inauguration of Democrat President Joe Biden.
PERMANENT SECURITY FENCING coming to US Capitol.
New statement from acting US Capitol Police chief: "Vast improvements to the physical security infrastructure must be made to include permanent fencing" pic.twitter.com/6JMPfcn1E9
— Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) January 28, 2021
“As I noted earlier this week, even before September 11, 2001, security experts argued that more needed to be done to protect the US Capitol,” Pittman said in a statement Thursday. “In fact, a 2006 security assessment specifically recommended the installation of a permanent perimeter fence around the Capitol.”
“In light of recent events, I can unequivocally say that vast improvements to the physical security infrastructure must be made to include permanent fencing, and the availability of ready, back-up forces in close proximity to the Capitol,” she added.
Aside from the temporary fencing around the Capitol, other barriers have also gone up in various areas around Washington D.C. designating it “off limits” to the public.
Pittman said she is “looking forward” to working with Congress — currently led by Democrats — to “identify” the security improvements needed “to ensure the safety and security of the Congress and the US Capitol.”
Biden halts Mexico wall construction
The announcement from officials of the need for a physical barrier around the nation’s capital came as new Democratic President Joe Biden ordered a halt in the construction of a similar security wall along the US-Mexico. Biden said in an executive order that the border wall project — launched by former President Donald Trump’s administration to help stem the influx of illegal immigration to the US — was “not a serious policy solution” and is just a “waste of money.”
“Building a massive wall that spans the entire southern border is not a serious policy solution. It is a waste of money that diverts attention from genuine threats to our homeland security,” the Democratic president said in an Executive Order.
Likewise, Biden’s order ended former President Trump’s national emergency at the southern border and the 450 miles of wall which was authorized and built by the previous administration between 2017 and 2020 — effectively resulting in a loss of around $6.1 billion which was the cost of building part of the planned wall along the Mexico border.
This morning, I received notification that in accordance with President Biden’s executive order, all CBP contractors have now been formally notified to pause construction activities on CBP self-executed projects by Jan. 27. (1/3)
— Rep. Henry Cuellar (@RepCuellar) January 25, 2021
“It shall be the policy of my Administration that no more American taxpayer dollars be diverted to construct a border wall,” Biden insisted in a bid to reverse the immigration policies of former President Trump.
This comes as then-Acting CBP Commissioner Mark Morgan even warned earlier that stopping the construction of the border wall would cost taxpayers “billions of dollars” in settlement fees.
Biden admin faces backlash
Meanwhile, the idea of putting up “permanent fencing” around Capitol Hill was met with backlash online with many noting the irony of opening the country’s borders while building a wall on the US Capitol to keep Americans off it.
We should really consider putting one of these on our southern border https://t.co/ofuraa7pjk
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) January 28, 2021
“We should really consider putting one of these on our southern border,” one user wrote on Twitter.
The same week the southern border emergency and fence was cancelled by Presidential executive order https://t.co/4yEb5VbuEW
— Alex Plitsas 🇺🇸 (@alexplitsas) January 28, 2021
“The same week the southern border emergency and fence was cancelled by Presidential executive order,” another commented.
Biden's America? https://t.co/HNfsrkomJu
— (((Jason Rantz))) on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) January 28, 2021
“Biden’s America?” one user said.
This is outrageous. https://t.co/syOoqbHo2G
— Matt Stoller (@matthewstoller) January 28, 2021
“This is outrageous,” another added.
After 220 years without a permanent fence … https://t.co/9iOG2hM7HR
— Steven Portnoy (@stevenportnoy) January 28, 2021
“After 220 years without a permanent fence …,” said another user.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she had met with Lieutenant General (ret) Russel Honoré to discuss a security assessment of the Capitol Complex — after what she described as a “devastating attack” on the Capitol that “threatened the lives of and traumatized Members of Congress.”
The Democratic House Speaker noted she will be requiring an emergency supplemental funding bill “to meet institutional security needs” — which would likely include the permanent wall around the Capitol Complex — which, ironically, she said is “critical” to protecting democracy.
