Border wall prototypes a first small step on Trump campaign promise

By Heather Somerville

 

Seven of U.S. President Donald Trump's eight border wall prototypes are shown near completion along U.S.- Mexico border near San Diego, California, U.S., October 23, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Blake

 

San Diego (Reuters) - Nine months after President Donald Trump took office, the first tangible signs of progress on one of the central promises of his campaign have appeared along the U.S. border with Mexico.

 

A couple of miles (km) from the bustling Otay Mesa border crossing in San Diego, eight towering chunks of concrete and steel stand as high as 30 feet (9 meters) tall against the sky, possible models for what Trump has promised will one day be a solid wall extending the full length of the southern border, from California to Texas.

 

Whether any of the eight different prototypes, constructed over the last month, become part of an actual wall remains highly uncertain.

 

The U.S. Congress has so far shown little interest in appropriating the estimated $21.6 billion it would cost to build the wall.

 

Still, border patrol officials on Monday welcomed the momentum on Trump's pledge, which generated a groundswell of voter support that helped elect him to office.

 

"Our current infrastructure is well over two decades old," Roy Villareal, deputy chief patrol agent of the U.S. Border Patrol's San Diego sector, said during a tour with media organizations on Monday morning. "Is there need for improvement? Absolutely."

 

Currently, 654 miles (1,052 km) of the 1,900-mile (3,058-km)border with Mexico is fenced, with single, double or triple fences. The second line of fencing in San Diego, about 18 feet (5.50 m) tall, has been breached nearly 2,000 times in the last three years, Villareal said.

 

Even if Trump's wall never gets funded, Villareal said, the border patrol might incorporate one or more of the new wall designs as it replaces worn sections of the existing fence.

 

Six contractors from across the country were selected to build the eight prototypes, all of which will be completed this week.

 

The builders paid attention to aesthetics in their bid to win lucrative contracts. One wall segment features deep-blue steel and another has a brick facade, standing in sharp contrast to the area's existing border fence, a ramshackle structure of corrugated steel left over from the Vietnam War.

 

In late November, a private company, which border patrol officials declined to name, will begin a 30- to 60-day process of testing the wall prototypes to determine how easy they would be to climb over or dig beneath.

 

The final selection could be a combination of the prototype designs, Villareal said.

 

While solid, concrete walls have a daunting presence, they might have an adverse effect on some border patrol activities, since agents would not be able to see potential crossers approaching the wall.

 

"It's not so much the size of the wall, it's the ability to see whether it's 10 people or 30 people with ... rifles," said Rowdy Adams, a former border patrol agent who left the agency in 2011 after 30 years. "It's important to see that and set your response plan in place."

 

Two of the eight prototypes have a see-through design.

 

Environmentalists have warned that a solid wall would prevent wildlife, including a dwindling population of federally protected ocelots, from crossing.

 

A concrete wall may also prove challenging to build without participation from some of the world's largest concrete suppliers. Mexico's Cemex and Switzerland's LafargeHolcim <LHN.S> told Reuters they were not participating in projects associated with the wall.

 

(Reporting by Heather Somerville; Editing by Sue Horton, Rosalba O'Brien and Sandra Maler)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-10-24

 

I could get over any one of those walls, unless they had razor wire or electric current at top.

 

A grappling hook trailing a knotted rope, and.........

 

After building the prototypes, they should get some rock climbers to test 'em out.

Note; the types without spaces will get blown down (plus they're be good for murals and/or political statements writ large)

 

I’m hoping there’s a phase two secondary deterrent with robotic machine gun fire to address the ones who don’t comprehend a 30 foot tall keep out sign.

Yes yes yes, get that thing built.

 

Thank you President Trump.

8 minutes ago, KMartinHandyman said:

I’m hoping there’s a phase two secondary deterrent with robotic machine gun fire to address the ones who don’t comprehend a 30 foot tall keep out sign.

How very American! Wherrrre's ma gurn!

Not to worry. The next incoming POTUS will sign the executive orders to do away with ALL of Trumps foolish misdeeds.

Me thinks it’ll be coming sooner than later to a WH near you.

This could have the makings of a great TV mini-series. Every week the POTUS can speak to a number of brick walls and eliminate them one by one in successive weeks till he has a winner. An enormous wrecking ball would dispose of the loser. I am surprised no-one else has thought of this.

Edited October 24, 20178 yr by champers

way too much space between each panel to be efficient

11 minutes ago, Golgota said:

way too much space between each panel to be efficient

Way too much space between his ears to be efficient

 

There you go, fixed that for you

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Nine months after President Donald Trump took office, the first tangible signs of progress on one of the central promises of his campaign have appeared along the U.S. border with Mexico.

I do believe the promise was to make Mexico pay for it.  If that can't be done, don't make us taxpayers fund this ridiculous project.

5 hours ago, Luckysilk said:

Yes yes yes, get that thing built.

 

Thank you President Trump.

You are paying for it, lol

5 hours ago, KMartinHandyman said:

I’m hoping there’s a phase two secondary deterrent with robotic machine gun fire to address the ones who don’t comprehend a 30 foot tall keep out sign.

That's opposite to the Statue of Liberty's plaque.

 

So you really want to shoot and kill men women and children who seek to better their lives?  Wow.  How many hours do you spend in a dark corner of your trailer, facing the inside of your door, hoping some punk will open the door without knocking, so you can blow a basketball sized hole in his chest? 

 

America is really getting polarized.  Not surprising, considering the Great Divider as Dufus in Chief.  

 

Mexico will pay for a Trump's head to get stuffed into a giant marshmallow, and have him locked in a closet.

 

BTW, Perry is on his way out.  That's my prediction.  I'd say within 10 days.  People thought he would be 'the adult in the room,' but the ex-general is showing himself to be almost as much a vindictive liar as Trump. Did anyone really expect any person in Trump's inner circle to be anything but rotten? 

" Mexico will pay for a Trump's head to get stuffed into a giant marshmallow, and have him locked in a closet. "

 Staff already tried that. Had no discernable results

 

If I was in the crowd during one of these speeches, and clapped for this BS, I'd be beyond ashamed right now.  Sad that so many fell for this BS.

4 hours ago, SpicyMeatball said:

Not to worry. The next incoming POTUS will sign the executive orders to do away with ALL of Trumps foolish misdeeds.

Me thinks it’ll be coming sooner than later to a WH near you.

It will be hard to mend the damage Trump has done to the US's reputation overseas.  Granted, the US didn't have a sterling reputation before Trump, but there was some respect in some circles.  Now, it's all down the drain.   Trump is the butt of jokes.   He's shown that the US can't be trusted to abide by any treaties.  Mexican's prez was invited to visit Trump and was on jet to the US.   When he heard Trump's repeating (in real time, on the radio) the '.....and Mexico will pay for it, believe me" idiocy, the Mexican prez had the plane turned around to return home.

 

Hitler probably thought he was the world's greatest military strategist, similar to how Trump thinks he's the world's greatest deal-maker.  How can you make deals, when the people you're dealing with won't even meet with you?   .....and when you establish a reputation for shitting on any deals you or your predecessors make?  Trump is to deal making what a pig is to table manners.  

4 minutes ago, Emster23 said:

" Mexico will pay for a Trump's head to get stuffed into a giant marshmallow, and have him locked in a closet. "

 Staff already tried that. Had no discernable results

Trump ate his way out, and came out smiling.

6 hours ago, boomerangutang said:

I could get over any one of those walls, unless they had razor wire or electric current at top.

 

A grappling hook trailing a knotted rope, and.........

 

After building the prototypes, they should get some rock climbers to test 'em out.

Note; the types without spaces will get blown down (plus they're be good for murals and/or political statements writ large)

 

 

What would they do without such expert advice...

 

Quote

In late November, a private company, which border patrol officials declined to name, will begin a 30- to 60-day process of testing the wall prototypes to determine how easy they would be to climb over or dig beneath.

 

Edited October 24, 20178 yr by Morch

It is a pity this PO(TU)S hasn't read much. No wall in history has proved to do what intended. Go back to Hadrian's Wall, GW of China, up to the Berlin Wall and Gaza. None have succeeded in completely stopping infiltration. 

But, what the hey, it isn't his money being spent, is it?

No more wall construction is needed. Those prototypes look comical anyway. We already have the most capable and expensive Military in the world, why not use it to defend the frontier like sensible countries do? No, no more traipsing across an open boarder. All traffic must come through designated air/sea ports and crossings. Give 90 days notice to global media and foreign embassies. Afterwards shoot everything on two legs, ask questions later.

 

Such a wall would be an environmental disaster as large animals such as endangered jaguars, bears and others' natural migrations and ranges would be curtailed.

I lived in San Diego for years.  They've been building walls there for decades.  And they don't work.  We'd see reports of some new way they've figured out how to deal with them.  From ramming them.  To crazy ladders.  To tunnels.  Etc.  Impossible to completely block illegals from entering.

 

Luckily, illegal border crossings are WAY down from previous years.  Trump's just pandering to a base that loves this stuff.  Sadly.

Illegal Immigrants Jump Over Border Fence as MSNBC Reports on Wall Construction

1 hour ago, ChiangMaiLightning2143 said:

No more wall construction is needed. Those prototypes look comical anyway. We already have the most capable and expensive Military in the world, why not use it to defend the frontier like sensible countries do? No, no more traipsing across an open boarder. All traffic must come through designated air/sea ports and crossings. Give 90 days notice to global media and foreign embassies. Afterwards shoot everything on two legs, ask questions later.

 

Such a wall would be an environmental disaster as large animals such as endangered jaguars, bears and others' natural migrations and ranges would be curtailed.

Do you really think that all traffic is not currently required to go through "designated air/sea ports and crossings" ? 

?

TH 

8 hours ago, Luckysilk said:

Yes yes yes, get that thing built.

 

Thank you President Trump.

Yes it will be a great achievement , US citizens forking out billions of tax payer dollars in order to clean their own toilets and tend their own lawns.

38 minutes ago, BuaBS said:

Illegal Immigrants Jump Over Border Fence as MSNBC Reports on Wall Construction

This is one of those wonderful pieces of news that gives everyone a laugh.  The fact that they are laughing for entirely different reasons is by the by...

 

 

The left demonized that he wouldn't build the wall.Now that  it's under way,on to the next fallacy, that Mexico won't pay for it. Bank on it! Seven more year's of this whining.   Got to get all of his nominees confirmed ! 

Just now, riclag said:

 

 

The left demonized that he wouldn't build the wall.Now that  it's under way,on to the next fallacy, that Mexico won't pay for it. Bank on it! Seven more year's of this whining.   Got to get all of his nominees confirmed ! 

Laughable if it wasn't a little bit sad.  They have seven panels.

Do you really think that all traffic is not currently required to go through "designated air/sea ports and crossings" ? 
[emoji848]
TH 

Why follow the law when the risk of being caught is a bottle of water and a free bus ride to Tijuana?
(The potential reward, free food, free school, welfare money, illegal jobs, and a raft of other benefits at the expense of the American taxpayer).

9 minutes ago, ChiangMaiLightning2143 said:

Why follow the law when the risk of being caught is a bottle of water and a free bus ride to Tijuana?
(The potential reward, free food, free school, welfare money, illegal jobs, and a raft of other benefits at the expense of the American taxpayer).

 Excellent post! The wall will stop  most of those pregnant women from entering.

Edited October 24, 20178 yr by riclag