The House Homeland Security Committee has approved a $10 billion funding package for President Donald Trump’s cherished border wall construction, likely to be attached to the pipeline new Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) legislation.

• Committee chairman’s elaboration

In a statement obtained by Breitbart, the committee chairman Michael McCaul said, “We have been talking about border security for many years. Now that we finally have a partner in the White House who has prioritised this issue, it’s time for Congress to do its part and get the job done. I look forward to working with my colleagues in both chambers to get this bill to the President’s desk so we can finally provide the American people with the security they have long demanded and deserve.”

“The U.S. Constitution enumerates Congress’ authority to provide for the common defense of our nation. Today the Committee passed legislation that will protect our homeland by strengthening the security of our borders. This is a 21st Century, multi-layered approach, which authorises $10 billion for the construction of a border wall, $5 billion for the modernisation of our ports of entry, provides other tactical infrastructure and cutting-edge technology, puts more boots on the ground, and better empowers the Department of Homeland Security’s Secretary to take other necessary actions to secure the border,” Chairman McCaul stressed.

• Further provisions of the bill

The bill’s provision includes a spending proposal which will reimburse states for about $35 million to cover their costs of using National Guard troops to supplement border security efforts in their state and another $5 billion to increase security at ports of entry.

• Democrats displeasures and failed amendments

As expected, Democrats expressed their displeasure with the committee’s attempt to actualise Trump’s promise of a southern border wall, with Rep. Bennie Thompson, the committee’s ranking Democrat, failing at an attempt to change the name of the bill to the “Taking Americans’ Land to Build Trump’s Wall Act of 2017.”

Also, Rep. Filemon Vela failed in his bid to make some notable amendments in the bill that included adding the terms “big and beautiful,” “real,” “inclusive of a door,” and “paid for by the Mexican Government”.

Referring to Rep. Filemon’s attempt, chairman McCaul said, “I appreciate the gentleman’s creativity in this amendment and sense of humour, but I will oppose this amendment”.

Discerning the ploy to tie the bill to DACA legislation, Rep. Nannette Barragán said, “there’s no doubt that this is a setup for that conversation”.

Adegbite Adedotun