Ernst Pushes to Close the Border

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a member of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (HSGAC), voted to affirm that President Trump has the authority to secure our southwest border immediately and called to build the wall to end Biden’s era of open borders.

In November 2023, Ernst witnessed firsthand wall materials sitting unused near the border – ironically surrounded by their own fence. At today’s hearing, she pointed out this huge loss for taxpayers. Instead of being used for security, $250 million of paid-for border wall materials were wasted and stored for $160,000 per month before they were auctioned off for pennies on the dollar.

During her questioning, witness Kenneth Cuccinelli, a former senior Department of Homeland Security official, confirmed that the Biden administration’s intentional abandonment of border wall materials was a part of its “open borders policy” and “part of that narrative” that invited illegal immigrants into our homeland. He also mentioned that walls help border patrol manage the flow of illegals, creating efficiency and safety.

Watch Senator Ernst full questioning here.

“We're talking about $250 million worth of materials that were purchased. They are paid for, and they could have bolstered our security but instead, we've just left them there to waste,” said Senator Ernst.

Background:

Ernst demanded President Biden put taxpayer-funded border wall materials to use. She led the BUILD IT Act and was an original cosponsor of the FINISH IT Act, which was included in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024.

In August 2024, she conducted critical oversight after it was reported that the Biden administration was auctioning off border wall materials, even though Congress had legislation moving forward to use them to build the wall.

She also blasted the Biden administration for selling border materials for pennies on the dollar to a private buyer at a 96% discount.

The border crisis has made every state a border state, and – to protect Iowans – Ernst continues to fight to pass Sarah’s Law to ensure any illegal immigrant who kills or harms an American is held accountable.

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