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“I will look or ask the next time I go toward Antelope Wells.”

Thanks.

We don’t get to see the actual contracts - only media reports, which are often slanted beyond recognition to the real world.

I’d really like to know the “ground truth” of what we are getting, in terms of the whole package of capabilities. Just barrier alone has limited usefulness (bring a ladder and rope), but married with powerful detection technology and response capability, it becomes effective “Wall System”.

The first 20 miles of that new barrier, from the foot of Mount Cristo Rey, around Anapra (Sunland Park), and through the Santa Teresa Port of Entry, were done the first year, before all the studies and prototype information was incorporated into the design. They are 18 footers (which used to be considered the excessively strong standard) - but now most new barrier is 30 feet high.

The cost of that initial stretch was also much lower (about $4 million per mile) than what we are buying today (around $20 million/mile, or more), so I wonder what other features might have not been included on that stretch (e.g. road paving, lights, cameras). Out by Columbus, they are probably getting a much more robust system of capabilities, thanks to the advancement of the design and specs - definitely 30 footers are going in there now.

The concertina has been being installed by the Military, rather than the construction contractors (using different money, to conserve construction dollars). They have been operating at their own pace and direction, without public reporting, or media interest. So it is hard to know what has gotten done, or even if they are still at it (the mission was reportedly re-extended through the end of the fiscal year, just as it was the year before).

A triple roll mess of concertina makes a huge difference, when you are dangling at the height of a third or fourth storey window.

I sure would appreciate any first hand reports that you might pick up.