Joe Biden is said to be considering restarting work on Donald Trump's controversial border wall.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has reportedly said that the US President is looking into the option to plug the 'gaps' in the wall.
According to reports, Mr Mayorkas told employees of Immigration and Customs Enforcement that it wasn't off the table.
Advert
Notes from the discussion, which were reported in The Washington Times, said: "It's not a single answer to a single question.
"There are different projects that the chief of the Border Patrol has presented and the acting commissioner of CBP presented to me.
"The president has communicated quite clearly his decision that the emergency that triggered the devotion of DOD funds to the construction of the border wall is ended.
"But that leaves room to make decisions as the administration, as part of the administration, in particular areas of the wall that need renovation, particular projects that need to be finished."
Advert
It's understood that the work required could see 'gaps' filled and 'gates' installed, as well as the use of technology on parts of the wall that have been completed but not fitted out.
In January this year, shortly after his inauguration, President Biden rescinded the national emergency order that allowed his predecessor to fund the wall along the country's southern border with Mexico.
Back in 2019, Trump had declared a state of emergency over the border, which in turn allowed him to bypass Congress and use military funds for the construction of the controversial wall.
USA Today reported at the time that, under the emergency declaration signed in February 2019, Trump had been able to divert $600 million from the Treasury Department and $6.1 billion from the Defense Department to the Department of Homeland Security in order to pay for the wall's construction.
Trump then continued the proclamation in February 2020, which allowed him to divert $3.8 billion from the Pentagon for construction.
Advert
However, in a letter to Congress, President Biden stated the order was 'unwarranted', adding that no more tax dollars would be spent on the wall.
In the letter to congressional leaders, he said: "I have determined that the declaration of a national emergency at our southern border was unwarranted.
"I have also announced that it shall be the policy of my Administration that no more American taxpayer dollars be diverted to construct a border wall, and that I am directing a careful review of all resources appropriated or redirected to that end."
Building a wall along the US-Mexico border was one of Trump's key pledges during his 2016 presidential campaign.
Advert
According to the BBC, when Trump left office, about $25bn (£18bn) had been spent on the project.
Following Biden's announcement, Arizona Democratic Congressman Raul Grivalva said on Twitter: "Trump's national emergency was never about security.
"Now we must cancel the contracts and ensure that not another foot of the border wall is constructed."
Topics: US News