[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 51 (Monday, March 16, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14953-14955]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-05347]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Office of the Secretary


Determination Pursuant to Section 102 of the Illegal Immigration 
Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, as Amended

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Department of Homeland Security.

ACTION: Notice of determination.

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SUMMARY: The Acting Secretary of Homeland Security has determined, 
pursuant to law, that it is necessary to waive certain laws, 
regulations, and other legal requirements in order to ensure the 
expeditious construction of barriers and roads in the vicinity of the 
international land border in Val Verde County, Texas, and Maverick 
County, Texas.

DATES: This determination takes effect on March 16, 2020.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Important mission requirements of the 
Department of Homeland Security (``DHS'') include border security and 
the detection and prevention of illegal entry into the United States. 
Border security is critical to the nation's national security. 
Recognizing the critical importance of border security, Congress has 
mandated DHS to achieve and maintain operational control of the 
international land border. Secure Fence Act of 2006, Public Law 109-
367, section 2, 120 Stat. 2638 (Oct. 26, 2006) (8 U.S.C. 1701 note). 
Congress defined ``operational control'' as the prevention of all 
unlawful entries into the United States, including entries by 
terrorists, other

[[Page 14954]]

unlawful aliens, instruments of terrorism, narcotics, and other 
contraband. Id. Consistent with that mandate from Congress, the 
President's Executive Order on Border Security and Immigration 
Enforcement Improvements directed executive departments and agencies to 
deploy all lawful means to secure the southern border. Executive Order 
13767, section 1. In order to achieve that end, the President directed, 
among other things, that I take immediate steps to prevent all unlawful 
entries into the United States, including the immediate construction of 
physical infrastructure to prevent illegal entry. Executive Order 
13767, section 4(a).
    Congress has provided to the Secretary of Homeland Security a 
number of authorities necessary to carry out DHS's border security 
mission. One of those authorities is found at section 102 of the 
Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, as 
amended (``IIRIRA''). Public Law 104-208, Div. C, 110 Stat. 3009-546, 
3009-554 (Sept. 30, 1996) (8 U.S.C 1103 note), as amended by the REAL 
ID Act of 2005, Public Law 109-13, Div. B, 119 Stat. 231, 302, 306 (May 
11, 2005) (8 U.S.C. 1103 note), as amended by the Secure Fence Act of 
2006, Public Law 109-367, section 3, 120 Stat. 2638 (Oct. 26, 2006) (8 
U.S.C. 1103 note), as amended by the Department of Homeland Security 
Appropriations Act, 2008, Public Law 110-161, Div. E, Title V, section 
564, 121 Stat. 2090 (Dec. 26, 2007). In section 102(a) of IIRIRA, 
Congress provided that the Secretary of Homeland Security shall take 
such actions as may be necessary to install additional physical 
barriers and roads (including the removal of obstacles to detection of 
illegal entrants) in the vicinity of the United States border to deter 
illegal crossings in areas of high illegal entry into the United 
States. In section 102(b) of IIRIRA, Congress mandated the installation 
of additional fencing, barriers, roads, lighting, cameras, and sensors 
on the southwest border. Finally, in section 102(c) of IIRIRA, Congress 
granted to the Secretary of Homeland Security the authority to waive 
all legal requirements that I, in my sole discretion, determine 
necessary to ensure the expeditious construction of barriers and roads 
authorized by section 102 of IIRIRA.

Determination and Waiver

Section 1

    The United States Border Patrol's Del Rio Sector is an area of high 
illegal entry. In fiscal year 2019, the United States Border Patrol 
(``Border Patrol'') apprehended over 57,000 illegal aliens attempting 
to enter the United States between border crossings in the Del Rio 
Sector. Also in fiscal year 2019, there were over 146 drug-related 
events between border crossings in the Del Rio Sector, through which 
Border Patrol seized over 40 pounds of marijuana, over 15 pounds of 
cocaine, over 24 pounds of heroin, and over 195 pounds of 
methamphetamine. Additionally, Val Verde County, Texas, and Maverick 
County, Texas, which are located in the Del Rio Sector, have been 
identified as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area by the Office of 
National Drug Control Policy.
    Due to the high levels of illegal entry of people and drugs within 
the Del Rio Sector, I must use my authority under section 102 of IIRIRA 
to install additional physical barriers and roads in the Del Rio 
Sector. Therefore, DHS will take immediate action to replace existing 
pedestrian fencing in the Del Rio Sector. The segments within which 
such construction will occur are referred to herein as the ``project 
areas'' and are more specifically described in Section 2 below.
    The current pedestrian barrier in the Del Rio Sector does not 
provide the level of impedance necessary to effectively secure the 
border. Transnational criminal organizations frequently defeat and 
exploit the existing fencing for narcotics and human smuggling due to 
its inferior design and dilapidated condition. Construction of new 
fencing with a more operational effective design will allow Border 
Patrol to secure the border more effectively. Within the project areas 
roads will also be constructed or improved and lighting will be 
installed.
    To support DHS's action under section 102 of IIRIRA, I requested 
that the Secretary of Defense, pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 284(b)(7), assist 
by constructing fence, roads, and lighting within the Del Rio Sector in 
order to block drug smuggling corridors across the international 
boundary between the United States and Mexico. The Secretary of Defense 
has concluded that the support requested satisfies the statutory 
requirements of 10 U.S.C. 284(b)(7) and that the Department of Defense 
will provide such support in the project areas described in Section 2 
below.

Section 2

    I determine that the following areas in the vicinity of the United 
States border, located in the State of Texas within the United States 
Border Patrol's Del Rio Sector, are areas of high illegal entry (the 
``project areas''):
     Starting approximately two and one-half (2.5) miles north 
and west of the Del Rio Port of Entry and extending south and east for 
approximately three and one-half (3.5) miles; and
     Starting approximately one-half (0.5) mile south of the 
Eagle Pass II Port of Entry and extending north for approximately three 
(3) miles.
    There is presently an acute and immediate need to construct 
physical barriers and roads in the vicinity of the border of the United 
States in order to prevent unlawful entries into the United States in 
the project areas pursuant to sections 102(a) and 102(b) of IIRIRA. In 
order to ensure the expeditious construction of the barriers and roads 
in the project areas, I have determined that it is necessary that I 
exercise the authority that is vested in me by section 102(c) of 
IIRIRA.
    Accordingly, pursuant to section 102(c) of IIRIRA, I hereby waive 
in their entirety, with respect to the construction of physical 
barriers and roads (including, but not limited to, accessing the 
project areas, creating and using staging areas, the conduct of 
earthwork, excavation, fill, and site preparation, and installation and 
upkeep of physical barriers, roads, supporting elements, drainage, 
erosion controls, safety features, lighting, cameras, and sensors) in 
the project areas, all of the following statutes, including all 
federal, state, or other laws, regulations, and legal requirements of, 
deriving from, or related to the subject of, the following statutes, as 
amended:
    The National Environmental Policy Act (Pub. L. 91-190, 83 Stat. 852 
(Jan. 1, 1970) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.)); the Endangered Species Act 
(Pub. L. 93-205, 87 Stat. 884 (Dec. 28, 1973) (16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.)); the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly referred to 
as the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.)); the National Historic 
Preservation Act (Pub. L. 89-665, 80 Stat. 915 (Oct. 15, 1966), as 
amended, repealed, or replaced by Pub. L. 113-287, 128 Stat. 3094 (Dec. 
19, 2014) (formerly codified at 16 U.S.C. 470 et seq., now codified at 
54 U.S.C. 100101 note and 54 U.S.C. 300101 et seq.)); the Migratory 
Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703 et seq.); the Migratory Bird 
Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 715 et seq.); the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 
7401 et seq.); the Archeological Resources Protection Act (Pub. L. 96-
95, 93 Stat. 721 (Oct. 31, 1979) (16 U.S.C. 470aa et seq.)); the 
Paleontological Resources Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470aaa et seq.); 
the Federal Cave Resources Protection Act of 1988 (16 U.S.C. 4301 et 
seq.); the Safe Drinking Water Act (42

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U.S.C. 300f et seq.); the Noise Control Act (42 U.S.C. 4901 et seq.); 
the Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended by the Resource Conservation 
and Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.); the Comprehensive 
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. 9601 
et seq.); the Archaeological and Historic Preservation Act (Pub. L. 86-
523, 74 Stat. 220 (June 27, 1960) as amended, repealed, or replaced by 
Pub. L. 113-287, 128 Stat. 3094 (Dec. 19, 2014) (formerly codified at 
16 U.S.C. 469 et seq., now codified at 54 U.S.C. 312502 et seq.)); the 
Antiquities Act (formerly codified at 16 U.S.C. 431 et seq., now 
codified at 54 U.S.C. 320301 et seq.); the Historic Sites, Buildings, 
and Antiquities Act (formerly codified at 16 U.S.C. 461 et seq., now 
codified at 54 U.S.C. 3201-320303 & 320101-320106); the Farmland 
Protection Policy Act (7 U.S.C. 4201 et seq.); National Fish and 
Wildlife Act of 1956 (Pub. L. 84-1024 (16 U.S.C. 742a, et seq.)); the 
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (Pub. L. 73-121, 48 Stat. 401 (March 
10, 1934) (16 U.S.C. 661 et seq.)); the National Trails System Act (16 
U.S.C. 1241 et seq.); the Wild Horse and Burro Act (16 U.S.C. 1331 et 
seq.); the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 551 et seq.); the 
Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C. 403); the Wild and Scenic 
Rivers Act (Pub. L. 90-542 (16 U.S.C. 1281 et seq.)); the Eagle 
Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 668 et seq.); the Native American Graves 
Protection and Repatriation Act (25 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.); and the 
American Indian Religious Freedom Act (42 U.S.C. 1996).
    This waiver does not revoke or supersede any other waiver 
determination made pursuant to section 102(c) of IIRIRA. Such waivers 
shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with their terms. I 
reserve the authority to execute further waivers from time to time as I 
may determine to be necessary under section 102 of IIRIRA.

    Dated: March 11, 2020.
Chad F. Wolf,
Acting Secretary of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2020-05347 Filed 3-13-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9111-14-P