Why Biden claims he has no choice but to build more of Trump's border wall

President Joe Biden on Thursday said his administration had no choice but to build about 20 miles more southern border wall -- after he's long dismissed Donald Trump's wall as a waste of money that doesn't work to stop illegal immigration.

"Money was appropriated for the border wall," Biden told reporters, referring to congressional action during the Trump administration. "I tried to get them to reappropriate -- to redirect the money. They didn't, they wouldn't. And in the meantime, there's nothing under the law other than they have to use the money for what is appropriated. I can't stop that."

The White House proposed funds for border barrier construction be rescinded in 2021, but Congress essentially ignored the request. Officials said a series of procedural regulatory steps were required before the project could move forward.

The Biden administration is waiving 26 federal laws to make way for unfinished border wall construction in South Texas, according to documents formally published in the federal register Thursday.