Ilhan Omar says it’s ‘shameful and unacceptable’ for Biden to continue building Trump’s wall

The White House is reportedly considering construction to plug gaps and install gates in the wall along the US border with Mexico

Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar said President Joe Biden’s plan to continue the construction of Donald Trump’s wall on the Mexico border was “shameful and unacceptable”.

In the strongest criticism yet of the president’s immigration policies among her fellow “squad” members, Ms Omar made the comment following reports Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas may green-light construction to plug “gaps” in the current wall.

“It’s shameful and unacceptable for @POTUS to continue the construction of Trump’s xenophobic and racist wall,” she said in a tweet.

The Department of Homeland Security is considering plans to fill “gaps”, install “gates”, and add technology to other parts of the wall that remain unfinished, according to The Washington Times.

“It’s not a single answer to a single question. There are different projects that the chief of the Border Patrol has presented and the acting commissioner of CBP presented to me,” Mr Mayorkas reportedly said.

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“The president has communicated quite clearly his decision that the emergency that triggered the devotion of DOD funds to the construction of the border wall is ended. But that leaves room to make decisions as the administration, as part of the administration, in particular areas of the wall that need renovation, particular projects that need to be finished."

The White House on Wednesday danced around confirming whether the president would complete sections of the border wall, saying construction remains paused while a review looks at how the funds are already allocated.

Press secretary Jen Paski was asked by a White House reporter whether monies could still be used to fill gaps in the wall’s construction despite Mr Biden saying previously he wouldn’t build one more foot.

“No, I’m saying that some had been allocated already, previously, we’re working within what our limitations are by law,” she said.

Funding for the wall came from the Pentagon after Mr Trump declared a national emergency on the US’s southern border.

Under the Impoundment Control Act, when Congress allocates money to a project or purpose the government must follow through unless the president submits a specific request to rescind the funding.

Ms Psaki said the president doesn’t believe building more of a wall is a way to address the immigration challenges on the border.

“We don’t believe the wall is an answer, we have never believed the wall is the answer to addressing the challenges, immigration challenges at the border, that’s why we’re proposing an investment in smart security at the border. What we see as 21st century solutions for border management,” she said.