Drop in the bucket. But at least we get a drop. Of course, they’ll just wander down a few miles to come in same as always.
“Drop in the bucket.(256 more miles)”
The Trump Program prioritizes the highest traffic areas first, So the earliest miles have the biggest impacts.
For example, out of the first 40 miles from the 2017 appropriation, there was 14 miles for a “replacement” 18 foot primary barrier in San Diego. When the caravan went there last year, they were completely deterred/defeated by new 18 foot bollard barrier, and had to move to where the new bollards were not yet installed. There, masses of riot police and tear gas were required around the clock. Since then, that whole primary barrier is complete, and a second run of mighty 30 foot bollards (secondary barrier) is going up behind the first.
The area in between the primary and secondary barriers, at least 150 feet wide, is being transformed - cleared of vegetation, getting stadium lighting, complete monitoring by fixed cameras (which will be monitored by AI software, as well as humans) and embedded with alarm/sensor systems, that will bring detection to basically 100%. High speed, all weather patrol road will extend the entire length of that urban area “enforcement zone”, as will both barriers, where before there were gaps (over 1 1/2 miles in the secondary barrier). There are also other powerful new technology programs fielding there at the same time.
Although it is only 1 1/2 mile of “new” barrier, and 26 1/2 miles of “replacement” barrier, it will totally transform the biggest urban area along the border - effectively shutting it tight by Christmas this year.
As they work down the carefully analyzed priority list, a few hundred miles makes a really big effect - most of the total effect. Basically, it will button up most of the border cities and Rio Grande Valley, where most traffic passes. The Rio Grande Valley and Laredo are the main battle in securing the border (about 150 miles worth) - the rest is relatively much easier, cheaper and faster.
The total plan for “Full Operational Control” of the Border, is for 1,100 miles of such strong barrier, thousands more full time positions, and several large technology programs.
With the money identified this year ($8.1 billion) the President should be able to get about 500 miles built or on contract before the election (about 300 built/200 contracted). If he gets the $8.7 billion he is requesting next year (which would be a miracle), there would be hundreds of more miles on contract - a bigger and much more effective package than the Bush-era Secure Fence Act, which was previously the biggest ever.
Because of the emergency declaration and the extra money from that, this is no longer playing small ball, but is seriously laying on enough top of the line barrier to really address the problem.