WASHINGTON— Today, President Joe Biden officially ended  former President Trump’s national emergency declaration at the Southern border. Trump declared the national emergency in 2019 to divert billions in congressionally-appropriated Defense Department funds to construct his border wall after Congress refused to provide him with the necessary funds. In response to the announcement, Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva issued the following statement:

“Trump’s national emergency was never about security. It was about stealing taxpayer dollars to build a monument to his racist policies while destroying environmental treasures, Native American sacred sites, and border communities in the process. The end of this fake emergency was a long time coming.

“Now, the Biden Administration must immediately cancel the existing construction contracts to ensure that not another foot of border wall is constructed under his watch. We have a duty to recognize the severe impacts border wall construction has had on border communities and begin our work to remedy the major damage caused by Trump’s destructive policies.”

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