SAN DIEGO (Border Report) — A couple from Salt Lake City, on vacation through Southern California this week, decided to stop by the border barrier between San Diego and Tijuana.
They were taken aback by the height of the fence and the surprisingly easy access to the area.
Before leaving, they took a selfie in front of the barrier, a moment they wanted to capture to remember their unique experience.
In the future, if President Donald Trump gets the money to build 700 miles of additional border fencing, 900 miles of river barriers, and 630 miles of secondary walls, they may have many other new spots along the southern border to pose for a picture.
For the crucial task of enhancing border security, a significant investment of about $46.5 billion is required. This forms a substantial part of the Border Security Funding Plan’s total cost of $69 billion.
The funds will also pay for additional projects, including:
- $5 billion for CBP Facilities
- $4.1 billion for 8,000 additional Customs and Border Protection agents, officers, and support staff
- $2 billion for CBP workforce annual retention bonuses and signing incentives
- $1.07 billion for non-intrusive inspection technology
- $2.7 billion for border surveillance technology
- $500 million for unmanned aircraft systems
- $450 million for Operation Stonegarden, a federal grant program administered by FEMA
“Considering the amount of people that are in the country illegally, many of them perpetuating crimes, we need the resources to continue doing what President Trump has promised the American people to get these individuals out of our country,” said Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security during a House Appropriations Subcommittee hearing Tuesday morning.
Congress will have to approve the president’s request for funding.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has said he wants to have a vote on the issue by Memorial Day.
