Summary
The U.S. government has built about 50 miles of the main border wall and additional barriers along the southern border. Customs and Border Protection says the project is ahead of schedule and under budget despite past delays and local opposition.
Key Facts
- About 50 miles of primary border wall, 5.5 miles of water buoy barriers, and 13.2 miles of secondary barriers have been built.
- The border wall project costs $46 billion and faced delays due to contracting issues and community resistance.
- Construction pace is around 3.5 miles per week since early February, less than the 10 miles per week initially expected.
- Congress provided a major funding boost last summer, but contract approvals delayed construction on about 200 miles.
- Local residents and officials, especially in the Big Bend area, oppose the wall because of concerns over private land, parks, and archaeological sites.
- Officials say border crossings dropped without new Wall construction, attributing the decrease to policies and cooperation with partners.
- Concerns raised about construction impacts, including flood risks, water supply, and public lands.
- Customs and Border Protection sees the wall as a long-term investment to improve border security and reduce reliance on personnel.
