Speaking to reporters from the GOP retreat in Philadelphia Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell laid out plans to fulfill President Trump's campaign promise of building a wall along the U.S. southern border with Mexico and put a price tag on the project of $12-$15 billion. Funding for the wall will be put forward in a separate spending bill.
Yesterday Trump signed an executive order to build the wall and maintains Mexico will ultimately be footing the bill for its construction. In response, Mexican President Enrique Nieto threatened to cancel a planned trip to Washington D.C. next week and reiterated the stance his country will not be paying. Trump countered by saying Mexico should pay for the wall or Nieto should cancel the meeting. Trump expects the project to get underway in the coming months.
Back in 2006, the Secure Fence Act was passed by a bipartisan Congress and $1.2 billion was allocated for construction. The fence was never finished.