Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that the entire southern border wall will be painted black to deter illegal immigration by making it hotter, a concept initiated by President Trump. During a visit to a section of the wall in New Mexico, Noem highlighted the wall’s height and depth as deterrents, along with the black paint’s added benefit. Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks noted the paint’s rust-prevention properties. This move comes as part of ongoing efforts to complete the wall, with approximately half a mile being constructed daily.
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The Pentagon is reallocating $200 million from various military projects, including those for Marine Corps barracks and military schools, to construct a 20-mile-long, 30-foot-tall permanent protective barrier at the Barry M. Goldwater Range in Arizona. This action, justified under a presidential executive order and U.S. code regarding emergency construction, will replace the existing 12-foot-tall mesh barrier along the border. The repurposed funds come from programs dating back to fiscal year 2021, affecting projects in the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Department of Defense. The Pentagon’s decision to use military funds for border security has drawn criticism, although officials cited the need to obtain operational control of the border.
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Despite initial promises to halt construction, the Biden administration continued building sections of the border wall, citing legal obligations and funding constraints. This action, coupled with Republican states independently constructing their own barriers, reveals a bipartisan commitment to border wall construction, despite its questionable effectiveness in reducing migration. The wall’s impact extends beyond immigration, causing significant environmental damage and fostering a climate of surveillance and racial profiling in border communities. Ultimately, the border wall serves more as a symbolic gesture of anti-immigrant sentiment than a practical solution to immigration challenges.
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John Q. Hosedrinker