White House says the law is making them build more border wall

President Joe Biden is building the wall, even if he doesn’t want to.

The White House says it has to build 20 miles of wall at the southern border by law due to funds allocated when Donald Trump was still president.

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“These funds were appropriated in fiscal 2019 under Republican leadership,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. “We believe there are better, more effective ways of moving forward to secure our border, and we have continuously asked for Congress to act.”

The Department of Homeland Security has announced it’s building the 20 new miles in Texas, despite President Joe Biden‘s campaign pledge to build “not another foot” if elected.

The news came out last night, though Jean-Pierre says DHS made the allocation back in June. She also said Biden had asked Congress to reallocate the funds, which it refused.

Biden said much the same himself earlier in the day.

“The money was appropriated for the border wall. I tried to get them to reappropriate, to redirect that money. They didn’t,” he said. “They wouldn’t. 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.”

Asked specifically if he thought a border wall would be effective, Biden said, “No.”

Despite the White House’s apparent reluctance, the border wall announcement comes as immigration has become a weight on the administration. Biden’s approval rating on the issue is just 33.6%, and he’s facing increased pressure from blue state politicians in New York, Illinois, and the Washington D.C. area thanks to migrants who have flooded those areas via bus.

Jean-Pierre was pressed repeatedly about the border wall during Thursday’s press briefing.

Several reporters questioned why the money had to be spent now if it was appropriated four years ago. Jean-Pierre pointed back to needing to comply with the law, though she refused to name which specific law she was referring to.

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DHS cited an “acute and immediate need” for the wall due to surging illegal immigration, apparently against the beliefs of the president.

“The president has been very clear about this,” Jean-Pierre said. “He doesn’t believe the border wall is effective, and that has not changed. That has not changed.”