Donald Trump news: Report claims billion dollar border wall scaled by $5 ladders | World | News


US Border Patrol forces reportedly often find discarded ladders, often as cheap as $5, left alongside the wall when patrolling the area. The forces have also had to call Hidalgo, Texas to haul away the piles of lumber that are produced by the destroyed ladders.

Wooden ladders have become a go-to method of crossing for migrants along the Granjeno-to-Hidalgo stretch of border, according a report from Texas Monthly.

Scott Nicol, a local artist and activist, told the outlawry the ladders used by undocumented immigrants proved how the border wall was useless.

He said: “It’s made of cheap, rough wood, quickly nailed together because it is only going to be used once.

“Unlike the wall, these ladders are functional.”

The activist also said that “border walls are just backdrops for politicians who want to rile up their voters.”

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Chris Cabrera, a McAllen-based Border Patrol agent and local spokesperson for the National Border Patrol Council, defended the border wall.

The officer said climbing the wall gives border officers time to catch migrants who attempt to enter the US.

He added: “Nine times out of 10 we’re going to catch them.”

But he also admitted Border Patrol agents have been swamped with a surge in migration, and added: “We have people turning themselves over, and at the same time, when it’s dark we have people with ladders, but we got nobody to go over because we’re tied up.”

Mr Trump’s border wall was a key election promise for his 2016 campaign for President.

In January, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) information said 453 miles of the wall had been constructed, with only 82 miles being built where there was no barrier before.

The section in South Texas where ladders have thwarted the barrier cost $27 million per mile to construct, according to the Texas Monthly.

Time Magazine reported in January the US federal government allocated $15 billion for the 453 mile project in total.

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It comes after Mr Trump made his first television interview since leaving the White House, blaming successor Joe Biden for a spike in immigration.

UN children’s agency Unicef said earlier this week nearly 3,500 migrant children have tried to enter the US from Mexico, a ninefold increase since the start of the year.

He said to Fox News’ Sean Hannity the border crisis could “destroy America”, and added: “People are coming in by the tens of thousands.

“They’re walking in. They – we had – all they had to do was leave it alone.”

Upon taking office, Mr Biden signed an executive order halting construction of Mr Trump’s border wall.

However, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas recently admitted construction may resume.

He told department employees he may green-light work on the wall to plug “gaps” in the current wall

The Washington Times quotes him as saying: “The president has communicated quite clearly his decision that the emergency that triggered the devotion of DOD funds to the construction of the border wall is ended.

“But that leaves room to make decisions as the administration, as part of the administration, in particular areas of the wall that need renovation, particular projects that need to be finished.”



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