Back in September, Donald Trump visited a border wall construction project in southern California. After the tour, Trump bragged about the wall’s impenetrability.
“So it’s a very powerful, very powerful wall — the likes of which, probably, to this extent, has not been built before.“
But only two months later, smugglers have found an easy way through the “very powerful wall.” From The Washington Post:
“Smuggling gangs in Mexico have repeatedly sawed through new sections of President Trump’s border wall in recent months by using commercially available power tools, opening gaps large enough for people and drug loads to pass through, according to U.S. agents and officials with knowledge of the damage.
“The breaches have been made using a popular cordless household tool known as a reciprocating saw that retails at hardware stores for as little as $100. When fitted with specialized blades, the saws can slice through one of the barrier’s steel-and-concrete bollards in a matter of minutes…”
Smugglers have also found that since the wall is so tall, once the bollards are cut, they can easily be pushed aside, making a space large enough for adults to climb through.
Border Patrol agents have also found smugglers use improvised ladders to go up and over the wall.
The border wall project was the centerpiece of Trump’s 2016 campaign. He promised Mexico would pay for it. Instead, $10 billion in U.S. taxpayer funds has been allocated so far.