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Trump Administration Begins Testing Border Wall Prototypes To Prevent Scaling, Breach Attempts
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) began physically testing the southwest border wall prototypes this week, according to a spokesperson for the department.
The start of the official testing period was Nov. 27, but physical tests began Monday, said Carlos Diaz, CBP’s public affairs branch chief for the southwest border.
Construction of eight wall prototypes in the San Diego sector were completed on Oct. 26. Six companies were chosen to build eight sample walls four made of concrete and four constructed of “other materials.”
President Donald Trump made the southern border wall between Mexico and the United States the calling card of his presidential campaign. “Build the wall” became a familiar chant at all of Trump’s campaign rallies, and stopping illegal immigration was one of the candidate’s top selling points.
The prototypes are the first steps in CBP’s efforts to build a wall, although administration officials have acknowledged that a future wall is unlikely to stretch from “sea to shining sea,” despite Trump’s initial promise to cover the entire border.
Last week, CBP officials began training, safety and security procedures, as well as scheduling to set up the testing.
