According to the AP (http://www.newser.com/article/0413129c527e40cfa5046d92cfff55f3/ap-news-guide-trump-gets-wishes-on-border-wall-sort-of.html):
“WHAT DID TRUMP GET? Trump got the $1.6 billion he sought for one year of funding” (not the whole wall cost up front).
“Trump wanted to spend the $1.6 billion on 60 miles (96 kilometers) of new wall in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley, the busiest corridor for illegal crossings, and 14 miles (22.4 kilometers) of replacement in San Diego.
Instead, he will get about 90 miles (144 kilometers) — more than what he sought — but the balance shifts more toward replacement wall than new miles and the money comes with strings attached.”
“It allows 25 miles (40 kilometers) of new wall made of levees in Rio Grande Valley for $445 million. That’s 3 miles (5 kilometers) less than what Trump wanted because Congress declared the Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge in Texas off-limits to construction.
Congress is giving $196 million for new bollard-style barriers in Rio Grande Valley, which encompasses more than 300 miles (483 kilometers) of river and cities including Brownsville and McAllen on Texas’ southern tip. That money is expected to add 8 miles (13 kilometers).
The bill sets aside $251 million to replace 14 miles (23 kilometers) in San Diego, just as Trump asked.
It also marks $445 million for other replacement barriers. The administration has not given mileage or locations, but it is expected to provide 45 miles (72 kilometers), which averages to about $10 million a mile (1.6 kilometers).”
“WHAT STRINGS ARE ATTACHED? Aside from the construction ban in the Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge, the bill requires that wall construction this year sticks to existing designs that have proven effective.” (That basically means bollards - what the Border Patrol wanted anyway).
Bottom Line: As of Monday, we are now back in the border fortification business in a pretty big way (in historical terms), and the new barriers will be the biggest ever.
Two or three years of construction like this will really turn around the lower Rio Grande Valley for the Border Patrol, even if we never get the lump sum funding for the total project.
No, the plan was for higher bollards that in net effect are closer to a wall. The existing style let agents see across, but they are mere fencing — not high enough to be very effective.
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It also marks $445 million for other replacement barriers. The administration has not given mileage or locations, but it is expected to provide 45 miles (72 kilometers), which averages to about $10 million a mile (1.6 kilometers).”
....................... Uhhh.... sorry. These things you say "it allows" are basically "suggestions" in a spending bill. This is not budget authority.