Work on Trump border wall starts in Arizona, New Mexico

Tucson.com ^ | Aug 24, 2019 | Cedar Attanasio and Astrid Galvan (AP)

[BeauBo]

Work crews in Arizona and New Mexico forged ahead Friday with construction of taller border fencing funded through a national emergency declaration by President Trump.

The work on his hallmark campaign promise involves mostly replacement fencing along a 46-mile stretch of desert west of Santa Teresa, New Mexico, and on 2 miles of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in Arizona (the first of the 63 miles contracted there with DoD money)...

Workers broke ground between Columbus and Santa Teresa — small towns near ports of entry along the border between New Mexico and the state of Chihuahua, Mexico.

In Arizona, crews were installing 30-foot steel fencing to replace older barriers next to a border crossing known as Lukeville Port of Entry.

Both projects are being funded with money initially allocated to the Defense Department that was redirected by Trump’s executive order.

Use of the money was previously frozen by lower courts while a lawsuit proceeded. Last month, however, the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for the use of about $2.5 billion...

The administration has awarded $2.8 billion in contracts for barriers covering 247 miles, with all but 17 miles of that to replace existing barriers instead of expanding coverage.

[BeauBo]

"The administration has awarded $2.8 billion in contracts for barriers covering 247 miles, with all but 17 miles of that to replace existing barriers instead of expanding coverage."

247 miles are on contract, as of today - but more are coming soon, including lots of "new" miles in the Rio Grande Valley.

The public comment period on the Rio Grande Valley closes tomorrow (26 Aug) on 95 miles of barrier, planned with this year's money (money that is already on hand). Additional very significant contract awards are coming in the next few months - including the big runs of "new" miles, most of which will be in the Rio Grande Valley.

334 miles are now funded, including the DoD Counter-Narcotics money ($2.5 billion) that the President diverted to wall. These projects are using that DoD money, that went all the way to Supreme Court.

450 total miles are now funded, if the addition Military Construction money ($3.6 billion) that the President identified gets used (which requires his declaration of emergency to use). That is still in the courts.

More miles could be funded in the coming year's budget, or through other means by the President.

So there is a lot of upside potential, but the minimum scorecard now is about 60 miles finished, 187 more already contracted (including "new" miles), and another 87 with available funding that will be on contract in the next few months (334 total).

I expect the Administration to both win in court on the $3.6 billion remaining from this year's emergency declaration, and to get some more money in 2020.

The Start of 46 miles in New Mexico:

[BeauBo]

Photo of your New Mexico barrier under construction.

[MotorCityBuck]

Yes it is.

Thanks for your updates on The Wall.

[sheehan]

need to increase and accelerate the rate of deportations.

[karnage]

I’m amazed at how long all of this has taken, and how little progress has been made.

On the one hand, we ought to be encouraged — because it shows the limits of executive power in our governmental structure.

On the other hand, it makes one realize how poorly the government can do anything — even with an energetic leader like Trump at the helm.

[SamAdams76]

It's all about the Trump haters on the Left pulling out all stops to deny Trump his "signature" promise. Remember, the House controls the purse springs and in the first two years, when Republicans still had the House, Paul Ryan was a proclaimed enemy of Trump and was a determined advocate of open borders.

What amazes me is HOW MUCH the President has been able to accomplish virtually singlehandedly.

[Flag_This]

"On the one hand, we ought to be encouraged — because it shows the limits of executive power in our governmental structure."

If Obama and the dims had wanted a wall it would have been built in six weeks.

[SamAdams76]

If Obama and the dims had wanted a wall it would have been built in six weeks.

If illegal aliens voted Republican, it would have been built in two weeks.

[bigbob]

Keep Building The Wall!

[Flag_This]

"If illegal aliens voted Republican, it would have been built in two weeks."

And it would have included mine fields.

[dp0622]

We lost a lot of time with the mueller sh.t.

Trump couldn’t do half the things he wanted because that cloud was hanging over.

Now as we’ve seen, he’s rocking and rolling an still has (imho) 5 years to finish business.

[max americana]

“It’s all about the Trump haters on the Left pulling out all stops to deny Trump his “signature” promise.”

****

How about the Never Trumpers on FR who keep bitching about the wall at every border thread saying there is no wall, the wall will never be built and it’s all “fantasy”..surely those pictures are Photoshopped s/

[dowcaet]

For being a “crazy” lunatic President Trump is getting a lot of things done that his “sane” predecessors didn’t even come close to doing! Another failed Democrat narrative going down the tubes!

[trisham]

Amen to that.

[max americana]

It’s the same playbook: leftards send a stoppage lawsuit at the same courts where they have Obamatard and Klinton judges just waiting to stop it like clockwork.

That’s why Mitch and Graham are ALWAYS adding Trump judges at the fed level as fast as they can get them appointed.

[bgill]

need to increase and accelerate the rate of deportations.

That would help more than a couple miles of fencing here and there.

[Deaf Smith]

"shows the limits of executive power..."

During Hussien O's reign, we were told:"Does Not Have Standing" when suites were filled.

[karnage]

I agree with you, Sam.

[M Kehoe]

Hi.

Wining slowly is better than losing quickly.

5.56mm

[karnage]

And it would have fallen down in seven...