In a startling turnaround, Reuters reported last week that the Biden administration will make use of funds allocated by Congress in 2019 to construct an additional 20 miles worth of border wall.

According to The Washington Times, President Joe Biden told reporters that he was forced by law to undertake the project despite not believing in it. 

Biden claims wall won't be effective

"The money was appropriated for the border wall. I tried to get them to reappropriate, to redirect that money. They didn’t. They wouldn’t," the Times quoted Biden as saying during a White House briefing on October 5.

President Biden defends moving to build border barriers in a portion of the Rio Grande Valley, saying funding was already appropriated and he “can't stop that” despite asking Congress to redirect the money.

Asked if he thinks the border wall works, Biden says “No.” pic.twitter.com/U9dRRl4Lbk

— The Recount (@therecount) October 5, 2023

"In the meantime, there’s nothing under the law other than they have to use the money for what it was appropriated for. I can’t stop that," the president insisted.

When asked by a reporter whether he thought additional wall construction would help stem the tide of illegal migration, Biden said he did not.

DHS secretary points to "immediate need" for "physical barriers"

However, those words seem to contradict arguments that  Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas put forward in a Federal Registry notice.

He explained that "[t]here is presently an acute and immediate need to construct physical barriers and roads in the vicinity of the border of the United States in order to prevent unlawful entries into the United States."

What's more, USA Today reported that 26 federal laws have been temporarily waived in order expedite the construction process.

The border wall announcement came as the White House is facing a backlash from blue cities over the ever growing numbers of illegal migrants who are arriving.

Biden and Harris both mocked wall building under Trump

Folks, it really is all about the receipts—all day/every day 🤩💯 https://t.co/xhraM6OLa1

— Kathie has all the #Receipts💅ツ✿🇺🇸🐻🧡✝️ (@MustangGirl3) October 6, 2023

Vice President Kamala Harris also opposed wall construction under former President Donald Trump, mocking it as a "medieval vanity project."

Congress did not appropriate these funds for Trump's medieval vanity project. Let's be clear: Trump's wall has never been about keeping the American people safe. https://t.co/tlZ9GRp7Wd

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) July 27, 2019