The Trump administration is accelerating construction of a multilayered border barrier that combines physical walls, surveillance technology, drones, and even undisclosed non-lethal equipment, according to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin.

Become a Monthly Ministry Partner today.

View Comments (0)

From Breitbart:

Speaking with Washington Bureau Chief Matthew Boyle at Tuesday’s event, Mullin walked through the overarching differences between the Biden administration and Trump administration in terms of border security. The response has been twofold, dealing with the border and the interior.

“The border wall, first of all, we’re building at a record pace right now. It took us some time to get the infrastructure back in place. A lot of the material was sold. A contractor canceled. We had an issue with California, who was threatening anybody that was working on the wall that they’d be barred from doing state contracts. We had to get courts involved in it,” Mullin said, noting that they still have some issues they are working out.

…

“In some of the higher sectors that may funnel them to it, we actually have some equipment that I can’t talk about, but it’s non-lethal. Not less lethal; it’s non-lethal, but it’s enough to get their attention,” the secretary said, explaining that all of that comprises the “primary” wall.

Mullin described the administration’s approach as much broader than simply constructing a physical barrier. The primary wall, he explained, will stretch from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of America and use different types of barriers depending on the terrain. Some sections will consist of traditional land barriers, others will use water barriers, and still others will employ what Mullin called a “smart wall.”

According to the secretary, technology deployed along the smart wall can detect people crossing the border and provide authorities with information about them, including their number and characteristics based on factors such as gait and weight. Drones are also being used to track those attempting to cross illegally. Mullin did not disclose what the additional non-lethal equipment is or how it operates.

The administration is also constructing a secondary wall behind the primary barrier wherever possible. Mullin said officials would prefer roughly 120 feet between the two walls, although land restrictions can reduce that distance to 60 feet in some locations. A road between the barriers allows Border Patrol agents to respond rapidly when the first wall is breached.

That second layer is intended in part to counter tactics used by cartels. Mullin said smugglers became adept at using plasma cutters to breach the first wall and quickly move people through the opening. The secondary barrier gives agents additional time to intercept those who make it past the first obstacle.

The walls themselves are also getting taller. Mullin said some barriers that previously stood 18 feet high have been extended to 30 feet, making ladders more difficult to use and creating a far more daunting descent on the other side.

Border security has been one of President Donald Trump’s defining priorities, and Mullin’s comments illustrate the scale of the infrastructure now being deployed to enforce the nation’s immigration laws. As the administration works to secure the border physically and technologically, let’s pray for wisdom for those responsible for protecting our nation, safety for Border Patrol agents, and policies that uphold both justice and the rule of law.

Share your prayers for America’s border and those who protect it below.

(Excerpt from Breitbart. Photo Credit: DHS photo by Tia Dufour)