Joe Biden’s backtracking on a pledge not to continue what many have noted as Donald Trump’s signature policy. The administration is set to expand its border wall in south Texas in an effort to stem rising levels of immigration.

According to the BBC, about 32 kilometers will be built in Starr County along its border with Mexico, where authorities report high numbers of crossings.

Building the border wall it was a signature policy of Donald Trump’s presidency and drew condemnation from Democrats.

In 2020, Joe Biden pledged not to build another wall if elected.

In fact, his government had made a declaration immediately after taking office, according to which building a wall across the southern border “is not a serious political solution”.

The growing number of illegal border crossings has caused problems for the Biden administration. More than 245,000 crossings have taken place this year, according to government figures, and September is expected to be a record month.

Several US cities report being pressured by the influx. New York City Mayor Eric Adams predicted that the cost of housing the more than 100,000 new arrivals since last year will increase to $12 billion the next three years.

President Biden’s Secretary of Homeland Security reported in “acute and immediate need» to build the new section of the wall and prevent illegal inflows.

Dozens of federal laws were struck down to allow its construction, including the Clean Air Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act.

The move has angered environmentalists, who say the construction will reduce plant and animal habitats which are threatened with extinction.

“It’s disappointing to see President Biden stoop to this level, setting aside our nation’s fundamental environmental laws to build ineffective border walls that kill wildlife,” said Laiken Jordahl, conservation advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity.

According to a proposal by US Customs and Border Protection, the structure would consist of large pillars embedded in a concrete base, as well as gates, cameras and CCTV equipment.

Homeland Security stated that will use funding secured during Donald Trump’s presidency for the construction of the new section.

It is the first time the Biden administration has authorized the construction of new walls, something that was done frequently during Mr. Trump’s tenure, when 450 miles were built.