Contributed Photo/Courtesy U.S. Customs and Border Protection: This video still shows some of the new bollard wall along with legacy border barrier.
Contributed Article/Courtesy U.S. Customs and Border Protection
TECATE, CALIF. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection has completed construction of approximately 50 miles of new bollard wall projects authorized by funding from fiscal years 2017 and 2018.
Since January 2017, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have received funding to support the construction of up to approximately 201-205 miles of new border barriers through a combination of appropriations and the Treasury Forfeiture Fund (TFF). This funding is supporting the top border barrier priorities for the U.S. Border Patrol (USBP).
In fiscal year 2017, CBP received $341 million for the construction of approximately 40 miles of new Bollard Wall and gates in priority areas at the San Diego, El Centro, El Paso and the Rio Grande Valley Sectors. To this date, CBP has completed the construction of approximately 99 percent of the 40 miles funded in fiscal year 2017. Additionally, construction of 35 gates to close gaps in current border infrastructure in the Rio Grande Valley sector continues.
CBP also has completed approximately 10 miles of the 80 miles of new border wall funded by Congress for fiscal year 2018. The $1.375 million assigned for construction will allow CBP will focus its construction efforts in priority areas in the Rio Grande Valley and San Diego.
Border wall construction planning efforts will continue in fiscal year 2019, as CBP will use $2 billion authorized by Congress to build approximately 85 miles of new border wall focus in the Rio Grande Valley.