Border Wall System Construction (First of the massive levee walls)

Defense Visual Information Distribution Service ^ | 10.31.2019 | Charles Csavossy (CBP Public Affairs)

[Balding_Eagle]

Thank you.

What I do think would fit the “most beautiful wall “ it is a little different. It will take a little while but I will post something and ping you

[BeauBo]

The towering 30 foot secondary barrier in San Diego is now closing some of the steeper terrain between San Diego and Tijuana, that previously had no secondary barrier - just a single run landing mat fence and dirt road/ATV path (so it might be considered some "new" mileage).

Along with a a double run of massive bollards, topped with anti-climb plate and concertina, this previously wild gap is now completely served with excellent all weather patrol road, a cleared enforcement/observation zone, and getting the suite of lights cameras, alarms and sensors, that make the total Trump-style Wall System so effective. Super Barrier.

San Diego's Secondary barrier is on track for completion in January - double barrier wall system from the Ocean to Otay Mountain, East of San Diego.

A follow-on project to extend the new San Diego barrier through the rugged Eastern mountains, to meet up with the existing barrier on the other side, has already been approved for funding out of the DoD emergency funds, which will be going on contract in the next few weeks/months.

[Col Freeper]

Wanted to take a moment and thank you for the updates and details on the Wall.

Your efforts are greatly appreciated and I look forward to each of your postings.

Thanks again.

[Paulus Invictus]

More effective would be what the military guys used temporarily near Tijuana—razor wire on top and in the middle of the wall.

[BeauBo]

It is now kind of standing operating procedure that Military personnel will come behind the new bollard construction, and emplace concertina on it.

There is typically a gap of some months, so they don’t get in each others’ way.

The Military deployment to the border which the President ordered, includes logistic and surveillance assistance (including just pulling shifts in the command post monitoring the screens) to free up badged Border Patrol Officers for Law Enforcement, but it also includes a contingent of Combat Engineers, who are systematically hardening the Ports of entry, and deliberately emplacing hundreds of miles of concertina.

The mission has been extended through this fiscal year, and is now effectively functioning as a standing operation of Task Force North, commanded by USNORTHCOM, with individual units scheduled to rotate in and out for few months each.

[BeauBo]

New barrier in Tecate, CA.

Here you can appreciate how the see through nature of the barrier lets the operators in the command post, and their unblinking pattern recognition software, monitor anything approaching the barrier. Not enough time remains undetected for deliberate breaching attempts, huge standoff distance is created for tunneling efforts, and early warning is given of climbing attempts.

[redshawk]

Thank you for the information.

[JimRed]

Then land-mine the approaches, job complete.

[Boomer]

Electrify sections of this wall/barrier. Not enough to kill but enough to prevent anyone from touching it for more than a split second.

[BeauBo]

“‘Effective at stopping’ the flood of illegals is first...”

Amen to that.

Border Patrol had to do a painstaking analysis to prioritize each segment of the border, and justify it to hostile Congressional appropriators.

The three biggest corridors for illegal traffic - the Rio Grande Valley, San Diego and Yuma - have all been funded and contracted for top of the line Wall system under President Trump. This system includes everything on the Border Patrol’s wish list; tall bollards, excellent roads, permanent stadium lighting, complete high-power day/night camera coverage, and a suite of hidden alarms and mixed sensors. San Diego will be finished in January.

Those three corridors accounted for about 2/3 of the illegal flow when President Trump took office, and will be substantially closed at the end of his first term. Along with other areas that have already been contracted, or have existing funds identified to contract, he is on track to close the areas where over 80% of the pre-existing traffic flowed. For example, about half of the total Mexican border of both New Mexico and Arizona are already in the pipeline for new wall system (the more important halves).

If the President gets the kind of funding ($8.6 billion) that was formally included in the President’s Budget submitted to Congress for FY 2020 (by hook or by crook, like this year), he will be able to fund/contract down to the 17th major priority on their list. That would basically take us to end of where Border Patrol assesses barrier to be worth building (about 1,100 total miles, from what was in place when President Trump was inaugurated).

The top 300-400 miles really does the bulk of the job (the border cities and the Rio Grande Valley). After that, we are basically closing the next easiest alternative route, one after another, until illegals have no where left where they can drive through, or walk in less than a day. At that point, the delay time from having to bring a ladder and rope up to the barrier becomes insignificant, and only accurate detection, tracking and timely interception really matter.

The technology to detect and track is deploying even more rapidly than the barrier infrastructure. All of the Arizona border is scheduled to be covered by Integrated Fixed Tower persistent surveillance in 2020, and that is just one of the technology programs rolling out. Like barrier, the technology programs moved very slowly while analysis and justification were taking place, but after Congress’ final acceptance of the Comprehensive Plan in December 2018 (and the President’s use of Military funds, after the new Democrat Congress reneged on funding), we are off to the races for both barrier and technology rollout.

A very thorough plan was developed to achieve full operational control of the Southern border, in response to President Trump’s Executive Order 13767, (Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements, January 25, 2017). A lot of people don’t realize that progress has continued steadily on a rapid schedule against that plan, despite everything. If the President is as successful in identifying funding in 2020, as he has been so far, he can effectively lock in (contract and obligate funding) for the whole Program, even if it takes another year or two to complete the construction and installation. Even if he does not receive a dime in 2020, what is already underway will be pretty transformative. Getting the Rio Grande Valley built was the biggest single battle - everything else is easier, cheaper and less important after that.

[Sequoyah101]

You seem to know a lot about this. I have heard that the whole of Trump’s wall will actually cost less than obama’s affordable care website or something like that. Is this true?

[WildHighlander57]

Great work !

Yuuuge wall !!

[SharpRightTurn]

Another great report, BeauBo. Thank you for posting these.

[faucetman]

Thanks for all the photos/video of the “REPAIRS” to the border “FENCE” /s

[Notthereyet]

Omgosh.

You are so correct!

Yuck.

[BeauBo]

“I have heard that the whole of Trump’s wall will actually cost less than obama’s affordable care website or something like that. Is this true?”

I don’t think so. They paid too much for the Obamacare website, and it did not work when it was supposed to go live, but I doubt they spent a billion dollars on it. Congress appropriated $3.2 billion so far for President Trump’s wall (FY 17, 18 and 19 combined), the President has re-purposed another $6.1 billion from DoD and Treasury, and is requesting another $8.6 billion for FY 2020.

It might be possible to add in cost savings from lowered illegal immigration, or additional costs of some sort for Obamacare - but in terms of straight out up front cost, we are laying out more for the wall construction.

The wall is a worthwhile investment in my opinion, which will pay dividends over many years, whereas Obamacare will be a cost in perpetuity.

[BeauBo]

As of 11 Nov (per the Chief of Border Patrol)

[SteveH]

many thanks for the updates on the border wall construction!