Rep. Filemon Vela accused Rep. Nancy Pelosi of lying when she said that Democrats had barred President Donald Trump from getting a border wall in the omnibus spending package.
"Pelosi lied,” Vela told the Washington Examiner.
In the omnibus bill, legislators approved $1.6 billion for border security that included $445 million for "25 miles of primary pedestrian levee fencing" along the U.S.-Mexico border in the Rio Grande Valley.
"Democrats won explicit language restricting border construction to the same see-through fencing that was already authorized under current law," Pelosi said in a March 22 statement.
Rep. Vela, who opposes any funding for border barriers on Wednesday questioned Kevin McAleenan, Customs and Border Patrol Commissioner.
"That is actually not see-through, because it's a concrete wall that helps protect the levee, it's a hydraulic wall and that's consistent with appropriations language," said McAlaneen, the Examiner reported.
"When we were passing the omnibus, she said that all we were doing was funding see-through fencing—it's just not true,” Vela said.
"Basically Trump's getting what he wants, at least for these 25 miles he's getting concrete wall,” Vela said.
"It's disingenuous for Democratic leadership to say they're against the wall when they actually supported this kind of funding for a concrete barrier,” Vela added, the Examiner reported.
Pelosi aide Drew Hammill said that in the 25-mile span, concrete is serving as a levee, with see-through “bollard fencing” on the top, the Examiner reported.
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