Despite the suspension of nonessential activities and strict compliance of stay-at-home orders, U.S. President Donald Trump is adamant about the completion of the wall that is being built to separate the United States from Mexico on the southern border. Last week, Customs and Border Protection declared that 156 miles are complete.

Instead of filling in gaps in the border, much of the wall is replacing the dilapidated structure—about 140 miles of the primary and 11 miles of the secondary wall system. Beginning construction in January 2017, the border wall is set to be a full 450 miles by the end of 2020. President Trump is keen on fulfilling his promise of the border wall before the end of his term.

Unclimbable

Last Wednesday, President Trump toured the U.S.-Mexico border near the Otay Mesa in San Diego to test the strength of the wall.

"This wall can't be climbed," he said, with utmost certitude. "It's a very powerful wall, the likes of which, probably, to this extent, has not been built before."

A representative of the CBP said that anybody who attempts to go over or pass through the wall would find themselves unsuccessful. Embedded in concrete, with anti-climbing techniques, "it's also got additional technology like lighting, access roads, so it really is a wall system."

There is talk of numbers going down as the wall goes up, and there has been a decline in Arizona State. Between May 2019 and January 2020, from almost 21,000 apprehensions of illegal immigrants, the number shrank to a little under 7,000. 

More reports from CBP say that since 2017, $15 billion are set aside by the Pentagon, Homeland Security funding, and the Treasury Forfeiture Fund for the construction of the 750-mile border wall. Another $3 billion is allocated from military construction for 170 miles, and the Pentagon raises over $6 billion for 300 miles. 

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The Attempted Climbers

Last month, Border Patrol, at the southern part of the construction of the wall, encountered a black pickup truck that was designed to look like it belonged to the workers of the site, with the orange flag of the company contractor on the vehicle.

Apparently, unbeknownst at the time, it was driving along to pick up four migrants who crossed the border. According to the complaint, after driving the passengers to Douglas, the truck returned the same way along the borderline to drive back into Mexico.

It was only in the latter part of March that they found the truck again, this time parked in the contractor's lot. Seven people were inside who crossed the border.

Just recently, the authorities found two more pickup trucks with the same orange flag logos of the legitimate contractor. The complaint in the federal court in Tucson stated that, in total, 19 migrants planned on crossing the border.

One of the drivers, Gerardo Siqueiros Molina, a 34-year-old Mexican citizen, was arrested on April 1 and now faces human-smuggling charges. The second driver ran back into Mexico and was not arrested.

Among the arrested was Mexican citizen Gerardo Siqueiros Molina. He was told by the smugglers to pay only $400 of the original $1,000 smuggling fee if he drove.

He is currently under custody facing smuggling charges, while the other driver remains free. On April 17, he will be having his hearing via video conference.