Launched TUESDAY February 12, 2019 on www.zReportage.com Story #694: THE WALL - Of the 1,933 miles along the US-Mexico border, 1,279 miles is unfenced. From western California to eastern Texas, across four US states and 24 counties, the border criss-crosses arid desert, rugged mountains, and winding rivers. 7.3 million people live in the border counties on each side of the line. In an effort to make good on campaign promises to ''build that wall,'' President Trump refused to back down on his demand that Congress allocate $5.7 billion for the project, plunging the government into a shutdown after Senate Democrats refused to back a spending bill that included the wall funding. The longest contiguous stretch that is unfenced is in the center of Texas and it is more than 600 miles long. There are no cities on either side of the wall here, and the Rio Grande river forms part of the border. The original border fence construction was created with consideration to geography, economics and also legal factors. In 2006, Congress required that a barrier be constructed but the project was never completed as mandated, and much of the border fence lies in disrepair. The Texas border is mostly unfenced due to treaty provisions and property rights. Fencing was easier to construct in California, Arizona and New Mexico because the Federal Government controlled more of the land adjacent to the border. The cost estimates for constructing a new border fence have ranged from $8 billion (President Trump's initial campaign trail estimate), to as high as $40 billion. The number most often quoted by political and construction experts, is between $15 and $25 billion. To replace what exists with what has been described as a 20 to 50 foot structure that will traverse 1,000 of the some 2,000 miles of the U.S.'s border with Mexico will be no easy feat.
© Gary Moon via ZUMA Wire

April 7, 2018 - Jacumba, California, U.S. - Image shows US border fence on the Mexico border. This type of barrier is bollard styled construction, composed of 6 x 6 heavy steel tubing anchored in concrete and extending 16 feet or more above ground level, making it difficult for individuals to climb for access to the United States, and hard to cut through. For that reason, it is regarded as a pedestrian barrier unlike other barriers which only block vehicles. The gap between bollards is less than 6 inches. Bollard fencing was introduced as an improvement over the older standing mat barrier. The fence is not a contiguous structure across the US boundary with Mexico, but is found in segments where relatively higher frequency of attempted border crossings occur.
© Gary Moon via ZUMA Wire

April 6, 2018 - Campo, California, U.S. - Image shows a US Border Patrol vehicle driving eastward at the border fence on the Mexico border. This type of barrier is generally called a ''landing mat,'' a reference to the use of steel panels from the Vietnam War era which helped helicopters land in jungle areas. Landing mats are an early approach to creating a barrier on the US border with Mexico, to prevent illegal crossings. The structure is made of steel panels welded together and attached to vertical steel columns that follow the contours of the land. The structure varies in height from 5 to 10 feet, so it is effective against vehicles, but easily climbed by people on foot. Later versions of the border fence use superior construction designs to prevent illegal border crossers. The fence is not a contiguous structure across the US boundary with Mexico, but is found in segments where relatively higher frequency of attempted border crossings occur.
© Gary Moon via ZUMA Wire

April 6, 2018 - Campo, California, U.S. - Image shows US border fence on the Mexico border. This type of barrier is generally called a ''landing mat,'' a reference to the use of steel panels from the Vietnam War era which helped helicopters land in jungle areas. Landing mats are an early approach to creating a barrier on the US border with Mexico, to prevent illegal crossings. The structure is made of steel panels welded together and attached to vertical steel columns that follow the contours of the land. The structure varies in height from 5 to 10 feet, so it is effective against vehicles, but easily climbed by people on foot. Later versions of the border fence use superior construction designs to prevent illegal border crossers. The fence is not a contiguous structure across the US boundary with Mexico, but is found in segments where relatively higher frequency of attempted border crossings occur.
© Gary Moon via ZUMA Wire

April 9, 2018 - Nogales, Arizona, U.S. - Image shows US border fence on the Mexico border. This type of barrier is an older type of bollard style construction, composed of round steel tubing anchored in concrete and lacking the flat steel plates on the top of the later design. This is regarded as a pedestrian barrier, though not as difficult to climb than the newer style bollard fencing. The gap between bollards is less than 6 inches. Bollard fencing was introduced as an improvement over the older barrier. The fence is not a contiguous structure across the US boundary with Mexico, but is found in segments where relatively higher frequency of attempted border crossings occur.
© Gary Moon via ZUMA Wire

April 7, 2018 - Jacumba, California, U.S. - Image shows top of US border fence on the Mexico border. This view is from the Mexico side of the fence, near the eastern terminus. Note the steel plates at the top of the fence make climbing more difficult. This is a bollard style construction, composed of 6 x 6 heavy steel tubing anchored in concrete and extending16 feet or more above ground, making it difficult for individuals to climb and hard to cut through. For that reason, it is regarded as a pedestrian barrier unlike other barriers which only block vehicles. The gap between bollards is less than 6 inches. Bollard fencing was introduced as an improvement over the older landing mat barrier. The border fence is not a contiguous structure across the US boundary with Mexico, but is found in segments of relatively higher frequency of border crossings (
© April 7, 2018 - Jacumba, California, U.S. - Image shows top of US border fence on the Mexico border. This view is from the Mexico side of the fence, near the eastern terminus. Note the steel plates at the top of the fence make climbing more difficult. This is a bollard style construction, composed of 6 x 6 heavy steel tubing anchored in concrete and extending16 feet or more above ground, making it difficult for individuals to climb and hard to cut through. For that reason, it is regarded as a pedestrian barrier unlike other barriers which only block vehicles. The gap between bollards is less than 6 inches. Bollard fencing was introduced as an improvement over the older landing mat barrier. The border fence is not a contiguous structure across the US boundary with Mexico, but is found in segments of relatively higher frequency of border crossings (

April 6, 2018 - Campo, California, U.S. - Image shows US border fence and mountainous terrain at sunset on the Mexico border. This type of barrier is generally called landing mat, a reference to the use of steel panels from the Vietnam War which apparently were an aid to helicopter access in jungle areas. Landing mat is an early, primitive approach to creating a barrier on the US border with Mexico, to prevent illegal crossings into the United States. The structure is made of steel panels welded together and attached to vertical steel columns, following the contours of the land. The completed structure varies in height from approximately 5 to 10 feet, so it is effective against vehicles, but easily climbed by pedestrians. Later versions of the border fence use superior construction designs for a more difficult obstacle against illegal border crossers. The fence is not a contiguous structure across the US boundary with Mexico, but found in segments of relatively higher frequency of attempted border crossing.
© Gary Moon via ZUMA Wire

April 9, 2018 - Nogales, Arizona, U.S. - Image shows US border fence on the Mexico border bisecting Nogales Arizona from Nogales Sonora Mexico. View is from US side, looking west.This location is within a half mile of the Port of Entry. This type of barrier is bollard style construction, composed of 6in x 6in heavy steel square tubing anchored in concrete and extending16 feet or more above ground level, making it difficult for individuals to climb for access to the United States, and hard to cut through. For that reason, it is regarded as a pedestrian barrier, unlike other shorter barriers which only block vehicles. The gap between bollards is less than 6â€
© April 9, 2018 - Nogales, Arizona, U.S. - Image shows US border fence on the Mexico border bisecting Nogales Arizona from Nogales Sonora Mexico. View is from US side, looking west.This location is within a half mile of the Port of Entry. This type of barrier is bollard style construction, composed of 6in x 6in heavy steel square tubing anchored in concrete and extending16 feet or more above ground level, making it difficult for individuals to climb for access to the United States, and hard to cut through. For that reason, it is regarded as a pedestrian barrier, unlike other shorter barriers which only block vehicles. The gap between bollards is less than 6â€

April 9, 2018 - Algodones Dunes, California, U.S. - Image shows US Border Patrol vehicle beside border fence on the US / Mexico border in Algodones Dunes in extreme southeastern California, just west of Yuma Arizona. This fence resembles the bollard style of barrier with 6 inch square steel tubing set vertically (usually in concrete). However because this is an area of constantly shifting sand, placing the steel in concrete was impossible.
© April 9, 2018 - Algodones Dunes, California, U.S. - Image shows US Border Patrol vehicle beside border fence on the US / Mexico border in Algodones Dunes in extreme southeastern California, just west of Yuma Arizona. This fence resembles the bollard style of barrier with 6 inch square steel tubing set vertically (usually in concrete. However because this is an area of constantly shifting sand, placing the steel in concrete was impossible.

April 6, 2018 - Campo, California, U.S. - Image shows US border fence on the Mexico border, near Campo California, looking due south across Mexico landscape. This type of barrier is generally called landing mat, a reference to the use of steel panels from the Vietnam War which apparently were an aid to helicopter access in jungle areas. Landing mat is an early, primitive approach to creating a barrier on the US border with Mexico, to prevent illegal crossings into the United States. The structure is made of steel panels welded together and attached to vertical steel columns, following the contours of the land. The completed structure varies in height from approximately 5 to 10 feet, so it is effective against vehicles, but easily climbed by pedestrians. Later versions of the border fence use superior construction designs for a more difficult obstacle against illegal border crossers. The fence is not a contiguous structure across the US boundary with Mexico, but found in segments of relatively higher frequency of attempted border crossing.
© Gary Moon via ZUMA Wire

April 13, 2018 - Nogales, Arizona, U.S. - Image shows US border fence on the Mexico border, east of Nogales Arizona and Nogales Sonora Mexico, viewed from US side at sunset, looking southwest.This type of barrier is bollard style construction, composed of 6in x 6in heavy steel tubing anchored in concrete and extending16 feet or more above ground level, making it difficult for individuals to climb for access to the United States, and hard to cut through. For that reason, it is regarded as a pedestrian barrier, unlike shorter barriers which only block vehicles. The gap between bollards is less than 6â€
© April 13, 2018 - Nogales, Arizona, U.S. - Image shows US border fence on the Mexico border, east of Nogales Arizona and Nogales Sonora Mexico, viewed from US side at sunset, looking southwest.This type of barrier is bollard style construction, composed of 6in x 6in heavy steel tubing anchored in concrete and extending16 feet or more above ground level, making it difficult for individuals to climb for access to the United States, and hard to cut through. For that reason, it is regarded as a pedestrian barrier, unlike shorter barriers which only block vehicles. The gap between bollards is less than 6â€

April 9, 2018 - Nogales, Arizona, U.S. - Image shows US border fence on the Mexico border, west of Nogales Arizona and Nogales Sonora Mexico, viewed from US Side, looking west. This type of barrier is an older type of bollard style construction, composed of round steel tubing anchored in concrete and extending16 feet or more above ground level, making it difficult for individuals to climb for access to the United States, and hard to cut through. For that reason, it is regarded as a pedestrian barrier
© April 9, 2018 - Nogales, Arizona, U.S. - Image shows US border fence on the Mexico border, west of Nogales Arizona and Nogales Sonora Mexico, viewed from US Side, looking west. This type of barrier is an older type of bollard style construction, composed of round steel tubing anchored in concrete and extending16 feet or more above ground level, making it difficult for individuals to climb for access to the United States, and hard to cut through. For that reason, it is regarded as a pedestrian barrier

April 13, 2018 - Nogales, Arizona, U.S. - Image shows US border fence on the Mexico border, east of Nogales Arizona and Nogales Sonora Mexico, viewed from US side. This type of barrier is bollard style construction, composed of 6in x 6in heavy steel tubing anchored in concrete and extending16 feet or more above ground level, making it difficult for individuals to climb for access to the United States, and hard to cut through. For that reason, it is regarded as a pedestrian barrier, unlike shorter barriers which only block vehicles. The gap between bollards is less than 6â€
© April 13, 2018 - Nogales, Arizona, U.S. - Image shows US border fence on the Mexico border, east of Nogales Arizona and Nogales Sonora Mexico, viewed from US side. This type of barrier is bollard style construction, composed of 6in x 6in heavy steel tubing anchored in concrete and extending16 feet or more above ground level, making it difficult for individuals to climb for access to the United States, and hard to cut through. For that reason, it is regarded as a pedestrian barrier, unlike shorter barriers which only block vehicles. The gap between bollards is less than 6â€

April 7, 2018 - Jacumba, California, U.S. - Image shows US border fence on the Mexico border, looking east from a hilltop, with a telephoto lens. Note that the fence ends halfway up the mountain, then begins again at the top, reason unknown. There are faint signs of foot traffic crossing the border at the low end of the gap. This type of barrier is
© April 7, 2018 - Jacumba, California, U.S. - Image shows US border fence on the Mexico border, looking east from a hilltop, with a telephoto lens. Note that the fence ends halfway up the mountain, then begins again at the top, reason unknown. There are faint signs of foot traffic crossing the border at the low end of the gap. This type of barrier is

April 7, 2018 - Jacumba, California, U.S. - Image shows US border fence on the Mexico border. This view is from the Mexico side of the fence, looking west, near the eastern terminus of this section of fence. This type of barrier is bollard styled construction, composed of 6 x 6 heavy steel tubing anchored in concrete and extending 16 feet or more above ground level, making it difficult for individuals to climb for access to the United States, and hard to cut through. For that reason, it is regarded as a pedestrian barrier unlike other barriers which only block vehicles. The gap between bollards is less than 6 inches. Bollard fencing was introduced as an improvement over the older standing mat barrier. The fence is not a contiguous structure across the US boundary with Mexico, but is found in segments where relatively higher frequency of attempted border crossings occur.
© Gary Moon via ZUMA Wire

April 6, 2018 - Campo, California, U.S. - Image shows US Border Patrol agents on ATVs, patrolling border fence on the Mexico border. This type of barrier is generally called ''landing mats,'' a reference to the use of steel panels from the Vietnam War era which helped helicopters land in jungle areas. Landing mats are an early approach to creating a barrier on the US border with Mexico, to prevent illegal crossings. The structure is made of steel panels welded together and attached to vertical steel columns that follow the contours of the land. The structure varies in height from 5 to 10 feet, so it is effective against vehicles, but easily climbed by people on foot. Later versions of the border fence use superior construction designs to prevent illegal border crossers. The fence is not a contiguous structure across the US boundary with Mexico, but is found in segments where relatively higher frequency of attempted border crossings occur.
© Gary Moon via ZUMA Wire

April 7, 2018 - Jacumba, California, U.S. - Image shows US border fence looking southwest on the Mexico border with mountainous terrain. This type of barrier is generally called ''landing mat,'' a reference to the use of steel panels from the Vietnam War era which helped helicopters land in jungle areas. Landing mats are an early approach to creating a barrier on the US border with Mexico, to prevent illegal crossings. The structure is made of steel panels welded together and attached to vertical steel columns that follow the contours of the land. The structure varies in height from 5 to 10 feet, so it is effective against vehicles, but easily climbed by people on foot. Later versions of the border fence use superior construction designs to prevent illegal border crossers. The fence is not a contiguous structure across the US boundary with Mexico, but is found in segments where relatively higher frequency of attempted border crossings occur.
© Gary Moon via ZUMA Wire

April 7, 2018 - Jacumba, California, U.S. - Image shows US border fence on the Mexico border. This type of barrier is generally called a ''landing mat,'' a reference to the use of steel panels from the Vietnam War era which helped helicopters land in jungle areas. Landing mats are an early approach to creating a barrier on the US border with Mexico, to prevent illegal crossings. The structure is made of steel panels welded together and attached to vertical steel columns that follow the contours of the land. The structure varies in height from 5 to 10 feet, so it is effective against vehicles, but easily climbed by people on foot. Later versions of the border fence use superior construction designs to prevent illegal border crossers. The fence is not a contiguous structure across the US boundary with Mexico, but is found in segments where relatively higher frequency of attempted border crossings occur.
© Gary Moon via ZUMA Wire

April 7, 2018 - Jacumba, California, U.S. - Image shows US border fence on the Mexico border. This type of barrier is generally called landing mat, a reference to the use of steel panels from the Vietnam War which apparently were an aid to helicopter access in jungle areas. Landing mat is an early, primitive approach to creating a barrier on the US border with Mexico, to prevent illegal crossings into the United States. The structure is made of steel panels welded together and attached to vertical steel columns, following the contours of the land. The completed structure varies in height from approximately 5 to 10 feet, so it is effective against vehicles, but easily climbed by pedestrians. Later versions of the border fence use superior construction designs for a more difficult obstacle against illegal border crossers. The fence is not a contiguous structure across the US boundary with Mexico, but found in segments of relatively higher frequency of attempted border crossing.
© Gary Moon via ZUMA Wire