Article snippet: The federal judge President Homeland Security issued waivers to build along the southwest border. In order to expedite construction, DHS issued waivers to numerous laws and regulations, including the Safe Drinking Water Act. In his ruling, Curiel wrote: “The [DHS] Secretary is granted broad discretion in determining how to “achieve and maintain operational control” of the border.” Curiel said the court is aware the subject of the lawsuits is “currently the subject of heated political debate.” “However," he wrote that “in its review of this case, the court cannot and does not consider whether underlying decisions to construct the border barriers are politically wise or prudent.” Prior to the Trump administration, the last border construction waiver issued by DHS was ordered by Bush-era Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff in 2008, according to Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Trump University. Trump told Fox News last February that Curiel had been "extremely hostile" toward him, and alleged with no evidence that Curiel was biased against him because of Trump’s political positions on immigration. "I think it has to do with, perhaps, the fact that I'm very, very strong on the border - very, very strong on the border," Trump said at the time. "He has been extremely hostile to me. Now, he is Hispanic, I believe." In an interview with CNN last summer, Trump doubled down on his criticism of Curiel, saying that his comments were n... Link to the full article to read more