What You Should Know About the Wall as President Trump Shuts Down Government
Trump latest “wall” proposal now is costing $7.5 Billion.
$800 Million for humanitarian assistance
$805 Million for drug detection at ports of entry
2750 additional border agents x $57,750=$159 million
75 new immigration judges for backlog of 900,000 cases – 75 x $150,000=$11 million
Allowing Central American minors to apply for asylum in their home countries
$5.7 BILLION for physical barriers
Total=$7.5 Billion and there needs to be 150 more judges (vs. 75) plus $1 million for paralegals
Value of services lost in shutdown
| All pay owed | No. of workers | Furloughed | Lost labor | |
| Transportation | $350,000,000 | 46,100 | 9,100 | $69,088,937 |
| Agriculture | $300,000,000 | 95,000 | 44,000 | $138,947,368 |
| Interior | $300,000,000 | 65,000 | 48,000 | $221,538,462 |
| Treasury | $410,000,000 | 82,000 | 36,000 | $180,000,000 |
| Homeland Security | $1,000,000,000 | 245,000 | 32,000 | $130,612,245 |
| Commerce | $130,000,000 | 45,000 | 14,000 | $40,444,444 |
| Justice | $700,000,000 | 107,000 | 12,000 | $78,504,673 |
| HHS | $150,000,000 | 33,000 | 8,000 | $36,363,636 |
| HUD | $55,000,000 | 7,400 | 6,100 | $45,337,838 |
| EPA | $110,000,000 | 14,000 | 13,100 | $102,928,571 |
| NASA | $140,000,000 | 18,000 | 17,200 | $133,777,778 |
| TOTAL | 3,645,000,000 | 757,500 | 239,500 | $1,180,000,000 |
Source: Department filings, New York Times
LOST TAX REVENUES
An additional cost is lower tax revenues. Kevin Hassett, chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisors says that the economic cost is about $10 million an hour and $1.7 million less in taxes for each hour. That is $41 million a day x 30 days=$1.2 Billion in lost taxes.
So, add the $7.5 Billion with the lost $1.2 Billion and the cost is $8.7 Billion
Border Wall with Mexico
The border with Mexico is 1900 miles long through California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. One third or 654 miles has a security fencing with 354 having a pedestrian barrier, the rest are vehicle barriers. Plus even 18 foot steel tall barriers can be scaled in seconds by athletic people and makeshift ladders can afford others access. And then there is digging under the wall/fencing.
The existing border fence cost $2.4 billion to build the rest will cost between $15 billion and $25 billion with annual maintenance of $700 Million according to Marc Roseblum, Deputy Directof the US Immigration Policy Program.
Trump has indicated that MEXICO will pay for it. Mexico says no chance. So now President Trump is asking the tax payers of the US to pay for it. There are two issues – (1) any President using passage of budget to get a program approved, and (2) where does the money come from. Everybody agrees that immigration and border measures are needed – the issue is what kind and how to pay for it.
Existing Barriers Along Southwest Border
There were 303,916 border apprehensions in 2017, a 26% drop from 2016. Most of the apprehensions were people presenting themselves to border agents and seeking asylum. Most of these are occurring near the southern tip of Texas, Rio Grande Valley.
Apprehensions At U.S. Border Patrol Sectors in Fiscal 2017
Estimated Costs on Trump’s Wall Plan Vary Wildly
Two-thirds of the land along the border is private or state-owned. And most of that land is in Texas, where much of the border does not already have fencing. The Trump administration would probably need to use eminent domain to acquire the remaining land needed to complete a border wall.
Trump raised the pressure Tuesday, saying he’d be willing to shut down the federal government if Congress does not approve his border security proposal, which includes the wall.
There are two key questions regarding immigration: (1) how to create a path to naturalization for illegal immigrants currently living in the US, (2) how to pay for a wall and (3) will a physical wall solve this problem. Focusing on Texas with a wall/fence is ideal but where will the next location be, close one, pops up someplace else.
Alternative technologies to secure the border- Learn MoreWe need a smart border wall
What Agencies Are Affected by Government Shutdown- 75% of budget already funded. Shutdown- Effects
