Taking a detour from our series on Silicon Valley, Derek speaks with Laiken Jordahl, Southwest conservation advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity, about the Biden administration’s decision to continue construction of a border wall through the Rio Grande Valley. They discuss the impact this will have on the region’s ecology, wildlife, and indigenous and local communities, how it fits into the larger trend of border militarization, and more.

Relevant links:

* Construction contracts quietly issued (TX Observer)

* Construction could begin as early as December (The Border Chronicle)

* Laiken’s work on Medium

* “100+ Groups Urge Biden to Cancel 'Baffling and Cruel' Border Wall Waivers” (Common Dreams)

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