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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTrump's border wall has been breached more than 3,000 times by smugglers, CBP records show
Link to tweet
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/03/02/trump-border-wall-breached/
No paywall
https://archive.ph/lrRCG
NACO, Arizona Mexican smuggling gangs have sawed through new segments of border wall 3,272 times over the past three years, according to unpublished U.S. Customs and Border Protection maintenance records obtained by The Washington Post under the Freedom of Information Act.
The government spent $2.6 million to repair the breaches during the 2019 to 2021 fiscal years, the CBP records show. While the agency has acknowledged that smugglers are able to hack through the new barriers built by the Trump administration, the maintenance records show damage has been more widespread than previously known, pointing to the structures limitations as an impediment to illegal crossings.
Smuggling gangs typically cut the barrier with inexpensive power tools widely available at retail hardware stores, including angle grinders and demolition saws. Once the 18-to-30-foot-tall bollards are severed near the ground, their only remaining point of attachment is at the top of the structure, leaving the steel beam dangling in the air. It easily swings open with a push, creating a gap wide enough for people and narcotics to pass through.
A spokesman for CBP, Luis Miranda, said effective border security requires a variety of resources and efforts, infrastructure, technology, and personnel.
*snip*
Great big fucking useless fence.
XacerbatedDem
(511 posts)kimbutgar
(20,882 posts)But the stupid TFG needed a talking point for his ignorant cult members.
Caliman73
(11,694 posts)The best way to keep people from immigrating is to address the situations that incentivize them to MIGRATE or emigrate. People are leaving their homeland, their culture, their families, etc... They typically do so for a few reasons. They are curious and want to travel and have adventure, OR realistically, because their lives are so difficult in their countries that they see no other way but to get out.
I would argue that the US has aided in many ways, the conditions that create the second reason.
If we really want to slow the flow of immigration, we should help alleviate the conditions that make emigration a more desirable choice.
I know for me, the reason I would leave the United States is that Republicans win and create their christian dominionist white ethno-state. I think that a majority of the people who come to the US would rather stay in their countries, have a good job, and be free from violence.
Addressing those problems would be better in the long run than building a stupid wall.
samplegirl
(11,415 posts)In exchange for donations. The fence was a joke.
Anyone could get through at Tijuana.
60 minutes did a segment on it.
Big waste of money!
Claustrum
(4,845 posts)I don't see the republicans complain about the repair cost over the next 10 years.
samplegirl
(11,415 posts)They will continue to complain about immigrants.