Tijuana, Mexico – Border wall prototypes stand in San Diego near the Mexico-U.S. border as President Donald Trump and congressional Democrats are locked in a standoff over border wall funding that has shut down parts of the U.S. government.
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The shutdown started Saturday, when funding lapsed for nine Cabinet-level departments and dozens of agencies, and threatens to carry over into January.
The impasse over government funding began last week, when the Senate approved a bipartisan deal keeping government open into February. That bill provided $1.3 billion for border security projects but not money for the wall. At Trump’s urging, the House approved that package and inserted the $5.7 billion he had requested.
But Republicans in the Senate lacked the 60 votes needed to force the measure with the wall funding through their chamber. That jump-started negotiations between Congress and the White House, but the deadline came and went without a deal.
Trump, who was elected in 2016, campaigned on a promise to build a “big, beautiful wall” made of concrete, rebar and steel across the length of the southern border. He said he would make Mexico pay for it, but Mexico has refused.
Lawmakers have limited the administration to replacing or strengthening existing barrier designs, rather than building Trump’s new wall prototypes.
In budget year 2017, Congress provided $292 million to the Department of Homeland Security to build a steel-bollard wall to replace “ineffective” barriers along the border with Mexico. More than 31 of 40 miles have been constructed, and nine more are scheduled to be completed by 2019.
In March, Congress also approved funding for 84 miles (135 kilometers) of construction along the southern border.
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Ken yirbu. May Hashem give president Trump the strength to continue his good work and maga
Border Patrol’s new slogan: Join the USBP and get to play paddleball all day on our 7 gorgeous walls.
So the prototypes were just a publicity stunt. Built with my tax dollars.
Our POTUS just scribbled out a “Slat – Spear” design that has spaces big enough for most people (well, not me!) to pass through.
Which one is best for my sukkah?
Might as well build it, or start to build it. I suppose a wall in certain places makes sense.
Any design that doesn’t have see-through ability at the bottom is going to get rejected based upon recent pronouncements.
These prototypes were built last year or earlier, as part of bids from contractors.
Didn’t Trump say it would be a “see through wall” ? Maybe that’s why we can’t see the prototype of the invisible wall.