You sound like you’re really living it, but what is there, something like 500 miles of, yes, often negligible fencing as it is?
Barrier and wall are both bad euphemisms in my mind: I haven’t seen anything along the border that is other than a fence.
I’m just not buying it that we don’t need the vast majority of the border seriously fenced—30-feet high and double is roughly the dimension I think we are looking at too. Otherwise, they will just alter their paths to a somewhat more arduous, but still far too rewarding route.
“what is there, something like 500 miles?”
President Trump inherited about 650 miles of barrier that Border Patrol maintained on their books. More than half of that is vehicle barrier, that anyone can walk through.
Border Patrol strongly wants see-through bollard barrier (call it fence), for several compelling reasons. Bigger barriers and multiple barriers are important in cities, but outside the cities, detection and response are relatively more important.
There are new technology programs rolling out too, without much press, but which will have strong effects.
I have no update on recruiting. Last I heard they were still behind goal. There is a new rapid hiring process, if you know any young men who need a good job.