Believe it or not, progress is being made on a border wall with Mexico, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Tuesday even provided video and a press release to announce that construction of eight prototypes was underway.
Construction on 8 wall prototypes began today in San Diego. The prototypes are designed to deter illegal border crossings. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/WB1rIojgLj
— CBP (@CBP) September 26, 2017
Completion of wall prototype construction is expected within approximately 30 days of the Notice to Proceed https://t.co/tODIpX9taI
(2/2) pic.twitter.com/JBLet7jDe9— CBP (@CBP) September 26, 2017
According to the CBP, four of the prototypes will be made of concrete, while the other four will be constructed of alternate or “other materials.” The prototypes will be between 18 and 30 feet high and are expected to be completed within a month.
Wall Prototype Construction Starts Today pic.twitter.com/s2eXJnZpCF
— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 26, 2017
Construction of border wall prototypes begins in San Diego https://t.co/akiHV5vvQS pic.twitter.com/fBgqed3CJz
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) September 26, 2017
Potential Models of Trump's Wall Now Being Built https://t.co/bsHZO4xWQO pic.twitter.com/d9WJvCmiXZ
— The Weekly Standard (@weeklystandard) September 26, 2017
Contractors Begin Building Prototypes For Trump's Border Wall https://t.co/OLepoBiaQK
— NPR (@NPR) September 26, 2017
Todd J. Gillman of the Dallas Morning News reports that, as he’s said, President Trump, as head of the executive branch, has the authority to direct an agency to award a contract to a particular bidder, so the winning design might be chosen by the president himself.
.@realDonaldTrump said he'll pick a #borderwall design himself. Turns out, he can. https://t.co/fE8UVKTIBF via @dallasnews
— Todd J. Gillman (@toddgillman) September 26, 2017
Gillman reports:
Trump’s startling revelation of a hands-on approach to the wall came at the same Alabama campaign rally at which he railed against NFL players who don’t stand for the national anthem. Those attacks overshadowed lengthy comments on the border wall.
“We are looking at four different samples built by four great companies, four different concepts. They’re just about completed,” Trump said. “I’m going to go out and look at them personally and pick the right one.”
Trump said he wants a “see-through” wall to allow Border Patrol and other authorities to see smugglers and potential border crossers. The Homeland Security Department has expressly sought visibility through the barrier as a design element. But Trump seemed to say he wants the entire structure to be see-through.
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Related:
President pitches border wall equipped with solar panels; No word on moat filled with nuclear waste https://t.co/XMkxM5TSN6
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) June 6, 2017
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