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Donald Trump’s Wall

Background and Purpose

• Campaign Promise: Trump made building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border a central promise of his 2016 presidential campaign. He argued that it would help prevent illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and human trafficking.
• Physical Barrier: The wall was envisioned as a large, physical barrier spanning nearly 2,000 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border, though in practice, it was always intended to cover the most vulnerable sections rather than the entire border.

Donald Trump’s Wall: Construction and Funding

• Existing Barriers: Before Trump took office, there were already about 654 miles of various barriers along the border, including fences and vehicle barriers. The Trump administration’s efforts focused on replacing and upgrading these barriers and constructing new sections in areas deemed necessary.
• Funding Challenges: Securing funding for the wall was a major hurdle. Trump initially insisted that Mexico would pay for it, a claim that Mexico categorically rejected. In the U.S., Congress was reluctant to allocate the full amount requested. This led to a 35-day government shutdown in late 2018 and early 2019, the longest in U.S. history.
• Emergency Declaration: Unable to secure the necessary funding from Congress, Trump declared a national emergency in February 2019, allowing him to redirect funds from other government projects, particularly military construction budgets, to finance the wall.

Construction Progress

• Miles Built: By the end of Trump’s presidency in January 2021, about 452 miles of border wall had been completed. However, the vast majority of this involved replacing or reinforcing existing barriers rather than building entirely new sections of the wall.
• Types of Barriers: The wall was not a single, continuous structure but varied depending on the location. It included tall steel bollard fencing, concrete walls, and other forms of barriers. Some areas had 30-foot-tall steel slats, while others had shorter barriers designed to stop vehicles rather than people.
• Environmental and Legal Issues: The construction faced numerous legal and environmental challenges, including lawsuits from landowners who opposed the wall being built on their property and concerns about the impact on wildlife and ecosystems.

Controversy and Criticism

• Effectiveness: Critics argued that the wall was an expensive and ineffective solution to immigration issues. Furthermore, they point out that most illegal drugs enter the U.S. through legal ports of entry and that many undocumented immigrants arrive legally and overstay their visas. They also highlighted the humanitarian impact on migrants.
• Humanitarian Concerns: There were concerns about the wall’s impact on migrants, including families and children, attempting to cross the border. Critics argued that the wall forced migrants into more dangerous areas of the desert. Of course, this would increase the risk of death from exposure.
• Diplomatic Tensions: Trump’s insistence that Mexico would pay for the wall strained U.S.-Mexico relations. Although Mexico never directly funded the wall, Trump claimed that trade benefits from the USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) would indirectly cover the costs.

Donald Trump’s Wall: Post-Trump Era

• Biden Administration: Upon taking office in January 2021, President Joe Biden halted construction on the wall and ended the national emergency declaration. Biden redirected some of the funds that had been diverted for wall construction to other projects and ordered a review of the wall’s impact.
• Legacy: The border wall remains a polarizing symbol of Trump’s presidency. Supporters view it as a necessary measure to secure the border, while opponents see it as an ineffective and xenophobic response to immigration challenges.

Economic and Social Impact

• Cost: The total cost of the wall during Trump’s presidency was estimated at around $15 billion. Critics argued that this money could have been better spent on other border security measures, such as technology and personnel.
• Immigration Policy: The wall was part of a broader strategy to deter illegal immigration, including policies like “zero tolerance” for illegal border crossings, which led to family separations, and the “Remain in Mexico” policy, which required asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their claims were processed in the U.S.

Donald Trump’s wall: In Conclusion

The wall’s impact on immigration numbers, border security, and U.S. relations with Mexico continues to be debated.

Answer updated: August 2024