Trump Shifts Focus from ‘Build the Wall’ to ‘Bloody’ Deportations, Advocates Say Border Wall Is Failing

Immigrants seeking to cross the U.S.-Mexico border wall, which cost an estimated $20 million per mile to construct, can reportedly use simple power tools to saw their way through, according to a new article in The Independent. In some sections of the wall in southern Arizona, severed pillars can even be pushed open by hand, and in other areas, the rugged terrain leaves portions of the wall unconnected.

During his 2024 campaign, Donald Trump’s once-popular slogan, “Build the wall,” has notably disappeared from his rhetoric. This raises the question of whether Trump has abandoned the cause entirely. The Independent article reflected on the longest government shutdown in history, which was triggered by Trump’s insistence on funding for the border wall.

Although he ultimately secured the funds, the promised wall remains incomplete. Despite this, Trump’s campaign is no longer focused on finishing the structure. Instead, Trump is pushing for a “bloody” mass deportation operation that would immediately remove millions of people, including by potentially reviving the controversial practice of family separation.

Michelle Serrano, head of Voces Unidas RGV, a local advocacy group in the Rio Grande Valley, highlighted several issues with the wall, including its impact on local green spaces and exacerbation of flooding problems. “This is like a rights-free area,” Serrano told The Independent. “We’re talking about an area where they freely racially profile us. It feels like a separate but equal situation.”

Although the Republican Party still lists building the wall as a key part of its platform, the issue has faded from recent discussions on immigration. President Joe Biden, in contrast, pledged not to construct any more of the wall but was later instructed by a court to use funds allocated in 2019-20 to continue its construction. Environmental challenges arose, but the Biden administration was ordered to conduct the necessary cleanup before moving forward.

While Trump was not in office, Republican governors, particularly in Texas, have funded border wall projects, with 50 miles of the wall now state-funded. Despite the efforts, experts argue that these measures have not meaningfully reduced overall migration.

Trump’s new focus is on mass deportations, targeting up to 11 million undocumented immigrants. His team claims they will start with criminals, but the legal definition of criminal activity includes anyone who crossed the border illegally, potentially allowing for broad deportations. As Trump’s 2024 campaign revolves around this mass deportation promise, he may prioritize funding for this effort over the wall when making his case to Congress.