DailyMail.com has obtained drone photos that offer a birds-eye view of construction on Trump’s new Mexican border wall.
The photos show laborers hard at work on eight different prototypes for the new border wall, which Trump hopes will more effectively keep would-be illegal immigrants from crossing into the U.S.
The prototypes are being constructed in the California desert, near San Diego. Construction began at the end of September, after being stalled three months when firms that didn’t win contracts protested.
Reporters and photographers were invited by Customs and Border Patrol to visit the construction site this week, where crews already had large slabs of concrete poured.
Drone photos show construction beginning on eight new border fence prototypes in the California desert this week
Construction firms are currently building eight prototypes for the new border wall. At the end of the building process, the best prototype will likely be chosen and put into place along the entire border
It’s been reported that four of the prototypes will be made of concrete while four will be see through
Most of the prototypes seemed to be concrete-based, contradicting President Trump’s comments last week that the wall would be see through.
Each prototype will be up to 30 feet high and 30 feet long. Bidding documents say four of the prototypes are to be solid concrete and four are to be made of ‘other materials.’
Building a new border wall was the cornerstone of Trump’s presidential campaign. At first, he said that Mexico would pay for the wall, but the Mexican government has said time and time again that they will not foot the bill.
Trump still maintains that Mexicans will pay for the wall eventually, but says American taxpayers will front the cost until they do.
The prototype building process will last about three more weeks, CBP said. After that, the agency may pick several winners, or none.
The prototype building process will last about three more weeks, Customs and Border Patrol said. After that, the agency may pick several winners, or none.
The construction process is taking place in the California desert near San Diego
Building a new border wall was a cornerstone of President Trump’s campaign. He hopes a better wall will curb illegal immigration and restore jobs to Americans
It said in a news release that the prototypes ‘will inform future design standards which will likely continue to evolve to meet the US Border Patrol’s requirements.’
But the agency is also braced for massive protests and is beginning construction under tight security, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.
Already there are fears of protests as big as those at the Dakota Access Pipeline last year, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Concrete barriers have been placed at access points to the construction site and chain link fences have been built across open land.
One area could be being designated a ‘free speech zone’ for protesters to congregate, the LA Times said.
Announcing the start of construction, Ronald Vitiello, CBP’s acting deputy commissioner said in a statement: ‘We are committed to securing our border and that includes constructing border walls.
‘Our multi-pronged strategy to ensure the safety and security of the American people includes barriers, infrastructure, technology and people.
Construction on the prototypes began at the end of September after being stalled three months
Construction started three months late because construction firms who did not win a contract protested
Once the new border wall begins construction, protesters will likely have a large presence on construction sites across the country
Above, another look at construction being done at the prototype site this week
‘Moving forward with the prototypes enables us to continue to incorporate all the tools necessary to secure our border.’
The administration faces several federal lawsuits in San Diego that seek to block the prototypes and plans to replace existing barriers in California.
A complaint filed last week by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, a Democrat, largely mirrors two others by environmental advocacy groups that allege the administration overstepped its authority to speed up construction of the wall.
At issue is a 2005 law that gave the Homeland Security secretary broad powers to waive dozens of laws for border barriers, including the National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Air Act and Endangered Species Act.
The finished border wall prototypes will be 30 feet tall by 30 feet wide. Above, a look at construction taking place this week
the new border wall prototypes loom for residents on the Mexican side of the border on Thursday
Local residents look at border wall prototypes under construction in San Diego, CA, on Thursday
Aurelia Lopez and her daughter Antonia overlook construction of border wall prototypes on October 5, 2017 in Tijuana, Mexico
One model: This is one version of how Trump’s border wall could look. Construction is now beginning on the prototypes
The lawsuits say that authority has expired.
The administration has not commented directly on the lawsuits but it has issued two waivers since August, the first since 2008, on grounds of national security.
Both waivers are in California, including one that covers the site of prototype construction.
Funding to extend the wall beyond its distance of 654 miles is in doubt.
Democrats have balked at Trump’s $1.6 billion request to replace 14 miles in San Diego and build 60 miles in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley, the busiest corridor for illegal crossings.
Caddell Construction Co. of Montgomery, Alabama, and W.G. Yates & Sons Construction Co. of Philadelphia, Mississippi, were awarded contracts to build one wall of concrete and one of other materials.
Other contracts for concrete prototypes went to Fisher Sand & Gravel Co. of Tempe, Arizona, and Texas Sterling Construction Co. of Houston.
Contracts for prototypes of other materials were awarded to KWR Construction Inc. of Sierra Vista, Arizona, and ELTA North America Inc. of Annapolis Junction, Maryland.