[PJMEDIA] Rep. Filemon Vela (D-Texas) said today that the idea of finishing the U.S.-Mexico border wall is "obsolete" and that the U.S. government should tear down the existing fencing.
"The important thing to remember is Mexico is an ally, not an enemy. Our two countries share tremendous economic, cultural and social ties. The idea that we would ever have thought about building a fence or a wall between these two countries is just very difficult to believe. To me, a wall is a fence and a fence is a wall," Vela said during a presser alongside other House Democrats on Capitol Hill.
Double-layer fencing is present in some sections of the southern border while other areas have a vehicle barrier or no fencing. Spending bills that are being considered in the House include funding for building about 70 miles of the border barrier.
Vela said President Reagan called for tearing down the Berlin Wall because it was a "bad idea," so Congress should do the same with the existing fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border.
"The idea of building a wall between the two Germanys was a bad idea and that’s why he decided to tear it down," Vela said. "We are going to vote against these measures, but if it was up to me I would bulldoze the existing wall."
Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) argued that spending taxpayer funds on expanding the barriers at the border is wasteful.
"This bill should be about funding defense priorities, not cleaning up after Trump’s failures," he said.
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