In a statement released on Monday, the Pentagon announced Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan has authorized the “U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to begin planning and executing up to $1 billion” to build new walls and reinforce the U.S.-Mexico.
“These funds will be used to support [Department of Homeland Security’s] request to build 57 miles of 18-foot-high pedestrian fencing, constructing and improving roads, and installing lighting within the Yuma and El Paso Sectors of the border in support of the February 15 national emergency declaration on the southern border of the United States,” the statement added.
DOD letter to DHS approving request for support and outlining that support: pic.twitter.com/r7SvF2V26F
— Kristina Wong ???? (@kristina_wong) March 26, 2019
In a list of projects the Department of Defense released last week, they revealed up to $4.3 billion can be diverted in order to help build the wall.
“To make decisions about the use of military construction funds, the Joint Staff and [U.S. Northern Command] will examine a project list of specific border barrier construction projects provided by the Department of Homeland Security and will conduct a mission analysis on which border barrier projects would support the use of the armed forces,” the DOD said in their statement. “This analysis will help determine the border barrier projects the Department of Defense (DoD) might undertake and the level of funding required.”
The statement comes as Reuters also reported on Monday a new caravan of around 1,200 migrants, from Central America and Cuba, have begun to move towards the U.S. from southern Mexico.
