Trump’s border wall is estimated to cost $8 million to $25 million per mile

[SirLinksALot]

SOURCE: WASHINGTON TIMES

URL: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/mar/6/white-house-border-wall-could-run-25-million-mile/

By Stephen Dinan - The Washington Times - Monday, March 6, 2017


NACO, Arizona — The estimates of President Trump’s proposed border wall run anywhere from $8 million to $25 million a mile, White House budget director Mick Mulvaney said in a radio interview Monday — though he said no decisions have been made on exactly what the wall will look like.

Mr. Mulvaney, speaking on the “Hugh Hewitt Show,” said the White House will ask for some money in the next couple of weeks but won’t know the details of the cost and construction until it prepares its 2019 budget, which won’t be for another year.

The director also raised the possibility that much of the new barrier will be fencing, rather than a complete concrete wall stretching the 1,950 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border.

“It just depends on the kind of wall that you want to build, and I don’t think we’ve settled yet on the actual construction,” Mr. Mulvaney said. “You can do steel, you could do concrete, you can do a combination of concrete and steel. You can supplement it with different types of technologies and so forth. So it sort of depends on what you want to build.”

He also said the Office of Management and Budget is looking to match the type of fence or wall with the terrain.

Mr. Trump made building a wall along the southwest border a major theme of his campaign. But he gave conflicting details. He did, however, insist it would be a wall, not a fence.

Some 654 miles of the border currently have a barrier, though just 354 miles are covered by a substantive fence that is designed to keep out people and vehicles. Another 300 miles are covered by vehicle barriers that are easy for those on foot to step over or slide under.

The Border Patrol has experimented with different styles of fence and has concluded that those with alternating slats, which allow some visibility through to the Mexican side, are the most effective and the safest. Earlier versions with solid “landing mat” plates proved to be dangerous to agents because they allowed those on the Mexican side to wait in ambush and throw rocks over the fence with impunity.

Border Patrol agents said they used to be anxious when they got close to the wall because of the threat of being
bombarded. But the new style of fencing has dramatically reduced the number of assaults on agents, they said.
The cost of Mr. Trump’s wall has been a major source of contention. Democrats say that building a barrier along the southwestern border would be a waste of money.

A recent round of fence building in Naco, Arizona, cost $6 million per mile, according to U.S. Customs and Border
Protection figures provided to the Government Accountability Office.
But the White House is looking at figures higher than that, according to what Mr. Mulvaney told Mr. Hewitt on Monday.

“I’ve got, I don’t know, six or seven different papers on my desk. I’ve got one that goes, starts at $8 million per mile. It goes up to about $25 million per mile. So again, it just depends on, when you’re talking about across 2,000 miles or so, what you decide to build in what areas,” he said.

The debate about what fencing or wall is appropriate for which areas has raged for years. Congress in 2006 passed the Secure Fence Act, calling for 850 miles of a two-layer fence.

But that was reduced to just 700 miles of whatever type of barrier the Homeland Security Department deems necessary.

The department is 46 miles short of that goal.

In 2013, the Senate approved a bill that would have demanded an additional 350 miles of pedestrian fencing. That bill was approved with the support of every Democrat and about a third of Republicans.

[Wingnut]

YMMV

[Suppressed]

Interesting range.

So, what... $100 million per mile?

[catfish1957]

Ouch.

For that price I bet we could hire a literal army of National Guard to patrol the border, and massive fleet of deportation vehicles for a 100 years.

[SirLinksALot]

YMMV

Yep, that's what the report says --- run anywhere from $8 million to $25 million a mile

But knowing the government and by experience, I'd double that to $16 to $50 million per mile. They never do projects within budget.

So, the worst case is $50 million X 2000 miles which will cost us about $100 Billion, if we're lucky.

[NavyCanDo]

Huge, Big and beautiful cost money, and lots of it. And Im not just talking Russian brides.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

I believe Trump said that the wall "just got 10 feet higher" around 20 times in the campaign, which means the wall is up to at least 200 feet now.

[corbe]

[XenaLee]

I believe Trump said that the wall "just got 10 feet higher" around 20 times in the campaign, which means the wall is up to at least 200 feet now.

Funny....how....

the idiot left always takes things literally ONLY if/when it behooves their agenda to do so.  The rest of the time it's symbolism over substance and/or over literal facts.

(just my personal observation)

[driftdiver]

Yep, that's what the report says --- run anywhere from $8 million to $25 million a mile

But knowing the government and by experience, I'd double that to $16 to $50 million per mile. They never do projects within budget.

So, the worst case is $50 million X 2000 miles which will cost us about $100 Billion, if we're lucky.

@SirLinksALot

Since illegal immigration costs us around $113 Billion a year I'd say a payback of around 11 months is pretty darn good.

[catfish1957]

Funny....how....

the idiot left always takes things literally ONLY if/when it behooves their agenda to do so.  The rest of the time it's symbolism over substance and/or over literal facts.

(just my personal observation)

Should have stayed away from numbers and stuck with Yuge terminology.

[Elderberry]

Trump administration has found only $20 million in existing funds for wall

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration-funds-idUSKBN1685SY

When is the wall to be completed?

I say never. What say you?

[TomSea]

Trump being put down,  national sovereignty is important.

Ignore the fact, that Cruz called for a wall, Rubio called for a wall, Gohmert called for a wall.

But the slimebags will not be calling these others names.

[TomSea]

Funny....how....

the idiot left always takes things literally ONLY if/when it behooves their agenda to do so.  The rest of the time it's symbolism over substance and/or over literal facts.

(just my personal observation)

Funny how, Cruz, Rubio and Gohmert have called for a wall too. Are they idiots as well?

(just my personal observation)

[Emjay]

YMMV

There is an article somewhere that estimates how much will be saved per mile by keeping X number of illegals out of the country.

Better than spending it on the EPA trying to find itsy bitsy spiders on a waterspout.

[TomSea]

Maybe the solution is more green cards, more H1B1 visas, legal residency for illegals; this is what "conservative" Ted Cruz offered.

[corbe]

   Another indication that Sen. Cruz lives rent free in your head @TomSea no one, not even the original post mentioned Cruz.

   Feed your addiction.

[libertybele]

I'm not so sure about the accuracy of this article as it is my understanding that bids are currently being taken and contract(s) awarded mid April.

[catfish1957]

   Another indication that Sen. Cruz lives rent free in your head @TomSea no one, not even the original post mentioned Cruz.

   Feed your addiction.

Yep three straight (non-related)  posts where TomC seems to think Senator Cruz is the cause of the ills of the world.  I think he has a Man Crush on him.

[TomSea]

   Another indication that Sen. Cruz lives rent free in your head @TomSea no one, not even the original post mentioned Cruz.

   Feed your addiction.

@corbe

Sorry, I thought this was a discussion forum. Are you the forum owner? You like to put Trump down, what hypocrisy when your own choice supported a wall.  Sorry, that's out of bounds and the best response you have is l-a-m-e.

H-y-p-o-c-r-i-s-y

[Chosen Daughter]

@SirLinksALot

Since illegal immigration costs us around $113 Billion a year I'd say a payback of around 11 months is pretty darn good.

If it works I will praise Trump for that.  You are right with all the entitlements it will pay for itself.  I read an article that said Republicans told Trump he had to first explain where the money is going to come from.  That is where.  No more run across the border into the nearest hospital to drop a baby.  No more free health and dental.  Cash assistance and food stamps.  Housing help........on and on.

[catfish1957]

@corbe

Sorry, I thought this was a discussion forum. Are you the forum owner? You like to put Trump down, what hypocrisy when your own choice supported a wall.  Sorry, that's out of bounds and the best response you have is l-a-m-e.

H-y-p-o-c-r-i-s-y

Wow, you've learned to spell lame and hypocrisy.  Improvements are best noted one step at a time.   Keep up the good work

[libertybele]

Yep three straight (non-related)  posts where TomC seems to think Senator Cruz is the cause of the ills of the world.  I think he has a Man Crush on him.

He does look pretty spiffy donning a navy suit with white shirt and tie though.   

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Wow, you've learned to spell lame and hypocrisy.  Improvements are best noted one step at a time.   Keep up the good work

I'll never understand why the core Trump supporters in this forum take any slight against Donald personally.

[Suppressed]

I'm not so sure about the accuracy of this article as it is my understanding that bids are currently being taken and contract(s) awarded mid April.

The cited source is the White House budget director.