Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a motion seeking to block the federal government's reported sale of unused border wall sections, intensifying the ongoing political and legal disputes surrounding border security. The move follows claims that the Biden administration is auctioning off materials initially designated for the U.S.-Mexico border wall, a policy centerpiece of President-elect Donald Trump's first term and a major component of his upcoming agenda.
Paxton's motion, filed Tuesday, alleges that the sales contravene a federal court order issued in May 2024, which mandated the Biden administration to use approximately $1.4 billion in congressionally allocated funds for border wall construction. The administration had previously attempted to redirect those funds but was overruled by the court. "The Biden administration cannot auction off sections of the border wall. If these reports are true, they are violating a federal court order," Paxton said in a statement.
Reports first emerged last week that segments of the border wall were being transported to auction sites in Arizona, including the government surplus platform GovPlanet. Video footage obtained by The Daily Wire showed the materials en route near Tucson. These actions come just weeks before Trump is set to return to the White House, where he has vowed to resume construction of the border wall.
The Biden administration, which halted border wall construction upon taking office in 2021, has not commented on Paxton's motion or the reported auctions. Under the National Defense Authorization Act, Congress authorized the disposal of unused border wall materials, stipulating that they could be sold or donated to border states, provided they were used for repairs rather than new construction.
The reported auctions have drawn sharp criticism from Trump and his allies. During a press conference on Monday, Trump called on the Biden administration to halt the sales immediately. "I'm asking today, Joe Biden, to please stop selling the wall," he said, emphasizing the importance of the barrier to his border security strategy.
Texas officials have expressed readiness to intervene. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick stated that the state would consider purchasing the wall materials to donate them to the incoming Trump administration if the cost was justifiable. However, Patrick noted in a social media post that much of the material inspected in Arizona appeared to be in poor condition, with many panels deemed unusable due to rust and damage.
Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham also offered additional state land for storing wall segments that the Trump administration might acquire. "I will never give up the fight to secure our porous southern border and protect our sons and daughters from violent, criminal illegal immigrants," Buckingham said in a statement.
Critics of the auctions, including Arizona Representative Eli Crane, have accused the Biden administration of attempting to undermine Trump's efforts preemptively. "If it's true, they're purposefully hamstringing an incoming president," Crane said. "Why would they want to see President Trump succeed with policies they aggressively sabotaged?"
Polling data reflects enduring public support for Trump's border wall policy. A recent Gallup survey showed that 53% of respondents favor expanding wall construction, a 13-point increase since 2019. These sentiments align with Trump's emphasis on immigration control as a cornerstone of his campaign and governance.
