VIENNA, VA- The border wall is not the brainchild of President Trump like so many might believe. The origins of the wall began as a series of bills starting with the "Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952" later amended during the civil rights movement of 1965, the bill, "Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965." These bills set the standard for how the U.S. coined terms and determined how to handle migration in the States. It was not until Former President
Former President George W. Bush signed the "Secure Fence Act of 2006" which requested the construction of a border fence. Approximately 700 miles of fencing was built alongside the U.S. and Mexico border, which cost 50 billion dollars according to Saranac Hale Spencer, a reporter for FactCheck.org.
Other administrations like the Obama Administration announced the construction of a “virtual fence” which designated $50 million dollars which were used for mobile surveillance devices, sensors, and radios to patrol to protect the border in 2010. At the time, the Department of Homeland Security had spent 3.4 billion dollars on border fences and had built an additional 640 miles of fencing and security.
President Trump requested 5.7 billion dollars from Congress to add additional reinforcement, which would include the construction of a steel barrier on the Southern Border. The steel barrier would run an extra 234 miles. The bill included:
· Six hundred seventy-five million dollars to deter and detect narcotics, weapons, and other materials that pose a threat to the United States. Included in the bill was a non-Intrusive inspection technology for all incoming vehicle lanes of traffic at U.S. Southwest Border Land Ports of Entry, as well as permanent canine and other support. As part of the 5.7-billion-dollar request, the bill also focused on medical, safety, and facilities to aid in moral and well-being.
· Two hundred eleven million dollars to hire 750 additional Border Patrol agents to keep our borders safe and secure—an increase of 100 million dollars over the Committee bill.
· Eight hundred million dollars to fund enhanced medical support, transportation, consumable supplies, and additional temporary facilities necessary to ensure the well-being of those taken into custody according to a fact sheet issued by the White House on January 8, 2019.
President Trump's prioritizing immigration and border security are clearly nothing new. He merely brought national attention to something that has been in effect years prior. However, when he requested funding for wall security to Congress, it led to a historic 35-day government shutdown.
By Alex Fernandez