As is often the case, there is more to the story than meets the eye. A viral video circulated last week showing an illegal immigrant using a rope ladder to scale a new section of the border wall, with the help of two people on the Mexican side. But on Thursday, Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO) shared a video of a border patrol agent explaining that despite the video making it seem as though the wall doesn't work, it did, thanks to ancillary security features.
“Yesterday, a video showing someone illegally crossing into the United States over the new border wall went viral,” Graves said in the tweet sharing the video. “Today the Border Patrol revealed there was more to the story.”
“Spoiler alert: the suspect didn’t get away – and the wall worked as planned,” he added.
Yesterday, a video showing someone illegally crossing into the United States over the new border wall went viral.
— Rep. Sam Graves (@RepSamGraves) December 5, 2019
Today the Border Patrol revealed there was more to the story.
Spoiler alert: the suspect didn’t get away—and the wall worked as planned. #BuildTheWall pic.twitter.com/oY6ondY4pX
“Less than 24 hours ago, a video showed up on both Facebook and Twitter showing an individual climbing the border wall. That individual was assisted by the use of a rope ladder and two subjects on the Mexican side,” the officer says. “In the video clip, the individual makes it over the border wall and begins to run north into the United States.”
He continued: “The border wall systems consists of not only a physical barrier, but also lighting, patrol roads, and detection technology. While the physical barrier serves to slow down illicit traffic, the detection technology alerts our agents as to where and when threats emerge. The patrol roads allow for a rapid response.”
Standing at the location of the incident, he said the "system worked exactly as designed."
"The illicit traffic was slowed down. The detection technology alerted our agents. Agents responded, and the subject was apprehended," he explained.
“That subject turned out to be a 16-year-old Mexican male. All too often, criminal organizations exploit juveniles in this regard,” the agent said. “Through partnerships with the government of Mexico, coordination is currently underway to locate the other two subjects involved in this incident.”