1 Mileage Of Border
The border runs about 1,900 miles from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico. Some sort of barrier—made from concrete, steel mesh and/or barbed wire—stands along about a third of it.
2 Fortification
Much of that fortification came as a result of the Secure Fence Act of 2006. The act mandated about 700 miles of barrier, of which around 653 primary miles have been completed. The act also called for double fencing along the border, but only 36 miles of double fencing stands were finished.
3 Costs
According to the Government Accountability Office estimate from 2007, it cost an average of nearly $4 million per mile to build the existing border fence. Additional fencing could cost up to $10 million a mile.
4 Height Of Wall
It is unclear how big Trump wants to make his wall. Originally, he wanted a solid, continuous wall that stood 55 feet tall. He then scaled the wall back to 35 to 40 feet high. Now the wall could be a possible 30 feet.
5 Unfinished
As it stands a large portion of the wall still remains to be built. Only certain areas have been completed and could take a number of years before its ever completed. This one of the reasons so many people actually are able to cross over into the U.S.
6 Penetrable
As it currently stands the border wall when finished may prove to be still penetrable. One of the strategies used by those seeking to reach the U.S. is the construction of tunnels. It is however noteworthy that most threats to the U.S. arrive in other ways.
7 Via Apparatus
Those who want to cross the border can also do so via some type of apparatus like ladder for example. A border may seem secure but the determination of the human mind always finds a way to overcome obstacles.
