Three words – Ladder, Tunnel, Blowtorch

“But perhaps most important was evidence that smugglers repeatedly sawed through the barriers with commercially available, off-the-shelf power tools that cost as little as $100. The Washington Post advanced this story in striking ways yesterday.

Mexican smuggling gangs have sawed through new segments of border wall 3,272 times over the past three years, according to unpublished U.S. Customs and Border Protection maintenance records obtained by The Washington Post under the Freedom of Information Act.

To be sure, we learned in 2019 that this was happening. What we didn’t know was how frequently this was happening. We’re not talking about a handful of instances in which a few criminals used power tools; the Customs and Border Protection evidence points to literally thousands of such incidents during the 2019 to 2021 fiscal years.”

The Post added that after smugglers breached the wall with inexpensive power tools, they created gaps “wide enough for people and narcotics to pass through.” The article went on to note, “After smuggling crews cut through, they often disguise the breaches with tinted putty, making it difficult for agents to recognize which bollards have been compromised. The smugglers can return again and again to the site until the damage is detected, using the breach like a secret entrance.”

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott launches construction of border wall funded by state money and private donations after Biden paused federal projects

  • “Texas appropriated approximately $1 billion in funding for the construction of a border wall.
  • Gov. Greg Abbott said many Texas landowners along the border are donating their property for the wall.
  • The Texas wall comes after Biden paused all federal border wall construction projects.”

Wave of suicides hits Texas National Guard’s border mission

“Four soldiers have taken their own lives in two months”

Republicans struggle to save funding for Trump’s border wall

Biden Returns $2 Billion To Military Projects Trump Set Aside For Border Wall

The Guy Who Spent $30 Million Building Trump’s Wall Is Looking for Buyers

Trump’s wall: How much has been built during his term?

“The Trump administration say they’ve completed more than 400 miles of border wall since then.

It’s 452 miles (727 km) in total, according to the latest US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) information (4 January 2021).

However, only 80 miles of new barriers have been built where there were none before – that includes 47 miles of primary wall, and 33 miles of secondary wall built to reinforce the initial barrier.

The vast majority of the 452 miles is replacing existing structures at the border that had been built by previous US administrations.

President Trump has argued that this should be regarded as new wall, because it’s replacing what he called “old and worthless barriers.””

Fact check: Trump administration has built more border wall than meme claims

“That figure seems to have grown a bit over the summer, too – on Aug. 7, the San Antonio Express-News reported that of the then-260 miles completed, a total of 5 miles were new.

$1.3B Border Wall Contract Controversy Is Just the Latest for Fisher Sand & Gravel

DOD investigating Fisher Sand & Gravel’s $400M border wall contract

He built a privately funded border wall. It’s already at risk of falling down if not fixed.

Appeals Court: Trump Wrongly Diverted $2.5B for Border Wall

One Mile Per Year!

People are sawing through and climbing over Trump’s border wall. Now contractors are being asked for ideas to make it less vulnerable.

Some dirty words (TBS – Samantha Bee)

February 28, 2020

Border Patrol discovers new smuggling tunnel in southern US

February 26, 2020

Congress warns Pentagon not to move money to fund Trump wall

February 18, 2020

Homeland Security waives contracting laws for border wall

February 17, 2020

Native American tribe says Pentagon failed to consult on border wall construction

Lawmakers push back at Trump’s Pentagon funding grab for wall

February 15, 2020

2023:

TOO FUNNY:

See incredible photos of the Sun Bowl being played in a blizzard

February 14, 2020

Sen. Baldwin blasts plan to divert millions for Oshkosh Defense to border wall

‘Somebody is making money off those ladders’: Smugglers use ‘camouflage’ ladders to cross border wall

February 13, 2020

Trump to Raid Pentagon’s War Account to Build Border Wall

February 10, 2020

Native burial sites blown up for US border wall

February 6, 2020

TRUMP IS BLOWING UP A NATIONAL MONUMENT IN ARIZONA TO MAKE WAY FOR THE BORDER WALL

January 30, 2020

January 29, 2020

Authorities discover the longest drug-smuggling tunnel in San Diego

Portion of US border wall in California falls over in high winds and lands on Mexican side

January 19, 2020

$11 Billion And Counting: Trump’s Border Wall Would Be The World’s Most Costly

January 13, 2020

Trump planning to divert additional $7.2 billion in Pentagon funds for border wall

December 17, 2019

Trump administration may not hit 2020 border wall goal, official says

““Our goal at the end of 2020 was 450 miles,” Mark Morgan, acting commission for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, told reporters. “It’s hard right now to be able to say whether we’re still going to be able to meet that goal, but I’m confident that we’re going to be close.”

Morgan said that 93 miles of wall had been built so far during the Trump administration. At least 90 miles of that replaced existing structures, according to CBP figures – although Morgan argued during the briefing that all barriers built under Trump should be considered “new.””

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration-border/trump-administration-may-not-hit-2020-border-wall-goal-official-says-idUSKBN1YL2FB

Trump touts border money in bill despite Congress keeping funding level flat

Judge stymies Trump’s border wall by invoking GOP law targeting Obama

Pentagon inspector general to review $400 million border wall contract given to firm Trump favored

Pentagon watchdog plans to review award of $400M border wall contract to firm pushed by Trump

Federal judge blocks $3.6 billion transfer to fund border wall

Pentagon inspector general to review deployment of US troops to southern border

North Dakota company that Trump touted gets $400 million border wall contract

Judge blocks Trump’s favorite construction company from building private border wall

Who Are America’s Undocumented Immigrants? You Might Not Recognize Them.

Trump’s border wall hangs over spending talks

Jared Kushner’s new assignment: Overseeing the construction of Trump’s border wall

An up close look at construction of Trump’s wall

Smugglers cut a truck-sized hole to drive 16 through US-Mexico border wall, feds say

The Trump administration is dialing up efforts to ‘build that wall,’ records show

Trump administration notifies owners it will survey land for border wall

Trump admin preparing to take over private land in Texas for border wall

Pentagon pulls funds for military schools, daycare to pay for Trump’s border wall

Military families worried about moldy conditions in Joint Base Lewis-McChord housing

Smugglers are sawing through new sections of Trump’s border wall

Children were told to ‘build the wall’ at White House Halloween party

Trump says US is building a wall in Colorado — a state that doesn’t border Mexico

Trump tries (and fails) to explain his Colorado border wall comments

Colorado governor mocks Trump for saying he’s building wall there

Senate again fails to override Trump’s border wall emergency declaration

Friday’s 5 court rulings against President Donald Trump

Federal Judge Rules Against Trump Border Emergency Declaration

DoD Releases $6.7 Billion List of Projects That Could Be Bumped for Border Wall

Trump rebuked on military base project cuts, but veto looms

Here’s everything the Pentagon is putting on hold to concentrate on building the border wall

Large chunk of border wall funding diverted from tiny Guam

DONALD TRUMP SAYS BORDER WALL WAS CHOSEN AFTER 20 ‘WORLD-CLASS’ MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS TESTED IT

So….

Mexican congressman climbs U.S. border fence to illustrate that Trump’s wall is ‘totally absurd’

Trump Said This Wall Can’t Be Climbed. Professional Climbers Say He’s Full of Sh*t

Professional Climbers Are Laughing at Trump’s ‘Impenetrable’ Wall Claims

Rock climbers to hold border wall climbing competition after Trump said new section was unscalable

Mountain climbers scale replica of Trump’s border wall in under one minute: report

Border Wall Rising In Arizona, Raises Concerns Among Conservationists, Native Tribes

Administration looking to divert more money from Pentagon budget for wall construction, source says

Trump officials considering plan to divert billions of dollars in additional funds for border barrier

The 2,000 Mile Wall in Search of a Purpose:Since 2007 Visa Overstays have Outnumbered Undocumented Border Crossers by a Half Million

AUTHORITIES ALONG U.S., MEXICO BORDER FIND TUNNEL WITH RAIL SYSTEM, SOLAR-POWERED LIGHTING UNDER CALIFORNIA

3 Charts That Show What’s Actually Happening Along The Southern Border

Texas Border Sheriffs: There is No Crisis and We Don’t Want Trump’s Wall

Wall of contention

For Texas ranchers living along border fence, talk of an illegal crossing crisis is exaggerated

Troops do not view immigration as a ‘national emergency.’ Not even close.

BORDER COUNTY SHERIFFS SLAM WASHINGTON LAWMAKERS FOR ‘NOT LISTENING,’ SAYING WALLS ‘NOT EFFECTIVE’

Is There A Crisis At The Border? This Longtime Arizona Sheriff Says ‘No, There Isn’t’

A Single Scandal Sums Up All of Trump’s Failures

Trump Cuts “Muscle” from European Defense to Fund Border Wall

More than two years later, Trump’s wall remains unbuilt

With apprehensions dropping, when does the border ‘national emergency

FOX NEWS HOST: DONALD TRUMP ‘NEVER SHOULD HAVE SAID MEXICO IS GOING TO PAY FOR THE WALL’

Trump’s Wall Fund Diversion Risks Military Facilities’ Security, Report Suggests

Trump’s raid on military construction funds for his border wall will screw over critical Air Force projects, report says

Trump’s plan to pay for border wall with Air Force funds risks national security, report says

Who exactly is paying for Donald Trump’s border wall

Homeland Security raids Coast Guard coffers to pay for border programs

Florida Air Force base loses $17 million project to Trump’s border wall

Quick! List the times McConnell has stood up to Trump!

McConnell vows to protect Kentucky middle school from Trump’s grab for wall funding

Fort Campbell Middle School loses funding to build Trump’s border wall

Trump Raids Elementary Schools to Pay for Wall; Mexico Off Hook

On Tuesday, his administration revealed that it would be paying for the wall instead by diverting funds meant for the construction of elementary schools, hazardous waste warehouse facilities, and fire stations, among other Department of Defense initiatives.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/defense-department-reveals-military-projects-that-will-lose-funding-to-pay-for-border-wall

Pentagon approves diversion of military construction funds for Trump’s wall

Trump Reveals 2020 Plan: Break the Law, Build the Wall, Lock Up All Migrant Children

CREW REQUESTS CRAMER’S COMMUNICATIONS WITH ARMY CORPS ON BORDER WALL

CBP: No new border wall has been built with Trump in office

Slick? When will #MAGA folks learn I have the FACTS?

Fox News’s Shepard Smith pushes back on Trump: ‘There’s no new wall … not true’

Q&A: Here’s a breakdown of where Trump’s border wall stands

In places where no barrier existed before, how much new wall has Trump completed since taking office? None.

Trump administration can’t say when first section of new wall will be built

‘Take the land’: President Trump wants a border wall. He wants it black. And he wants it by Election Day.

THE HYPHEN 

The Hyphen, Webster’s Dictionary defines, 
Is a symbol used to divide a 
compound word or a single word. 
So it seems to me that when a man calls himself 
An “Afro-American,” a “Mexican-American,” 
“Italian-American,” An “Irish-American,” 
“Jewish-American,” 
What he’s sayin’ is, “I’m a divided American.” 

Well, we all came from other places, 
Different creeds and different races, 
To form a nation…to become as one

Yet look at the harm a line has done- 
A simple little line, and yet 
As divisive as a line can get. 
A crooked cross the Nazis flew, 
And the Russian hammer and sickle too- 
Time bombs in the lives of Man; 
But none of these could ever fan 
The fames of hatred faster than 
The Hyphen. 

The Russian hammer built a wall 
That locks men’s hearts from freedom’s call. 
A crooked cross flew overhead 
Above twenty million tragic dead- 
Among them men from this great nation, 
Who died for freedom’s preservation. 
A hyphen is a line that’s small; 
It can be a bridge or be a wall. 
A bridge can save you lots of time; 
A wall you always have to climb. 
The road to liberty lies true. 
The Hyphen’s use is up to you. 


Used as a bridge, it can span 
All the differences of Man. 

Being free in mind and soul 
Should be our most important goal. 
If you use The Hyphen as a wall, 
You’ll make your life mean…and small. 

An American is a special breed, 
Whose people came to her in need. 
They came to her that they might find 
A world where they’d have peace of mind. 
Where men are equal…and something more- 
Stand taller than they stood before. 

So you be wise in your decision, 
And that little line won’t cause division. 
Let’s join hands with one another… 
For in this land, each man’s your brother. 
United we stand…divided we fall. 
WE’RE AMERICANS…and that says it all. 

Trump lashes out at media after border criticism

5 misconceptions about the U.S.-Mexico border

64% oppose Trump’s move to build a wall; On asylum, just 30% support stricter rules

Graves Of U.S. Veterans To Be “Dug Up” For Trump’s Border Wall

The Trump Wall Lies:

Trump Lied:

Some dirty words (HBO):

No Concrete:

Trump vows emergency declaration over wall, agrees to shutdown-averting bill

No National Emergency (How does he ever have time for Golf or Rallies during a NATIONAL EMERGENCY?)

What Emergency?

Former senior national security officials issue declaration on national emergency

A clear majority of Americans oppose Trump’s emergency declaration

Most oppose Trump declaring national emergency for wall funding, CBS News poll finds

Hmmmm….

He always brings them up’: Trump tries to steer border wall deal to North Dakota firm

Company touted by Trump to build the wall has history of fines, violations

My backyard is on the Texas-Mexico border. Trump wants to seize my land to build his wall.

Trump’s emergency plan for the border runs into a budget snag

The GoFundMe Border Wall Is Finished. It’s Not Stopping Migrants From Coming In.

When Trump declared national emergency, most detained immigrants were not criminals

How heroin and fentanyl get into Philadelphia — and why a border wall likely wouldn’t stop them

No Wall Here! Over $1 billion worth of cocaine seized in historic drug bust in Philadelphia

And No Wall Here! Ship Seized With 20 Tons Of Cocaine Has Italian Billionaire Ties

Four Common Misconceptions about U.S.-bound Drug Flows through Mexico and Central America

AP Explains: Trump says wall will stop drugs, facts differ

Trump’s wall won’t do anything about the opioid epidemic

Here’s how drugs are getting smuggled from South America to the US

16 Maps Of Drug Flow Into The United States

Trump turned the border wall into his Alamo. That didn’t end well and this won’t either.

Kelly says a full border wall would be a ‘waste of money’

The French gave us a statue

Sad thing?

The group least likely to think the U.S. has a responsibility to accept refugees? Evangelicals.

Matthew 25:31-46

HOMILY – MATTHEW 25: 31-46

Border Security <> WALL!

8 U.S. Code § 1158. Asylum

(a)Authority to apply for asylum(1)In general

Any alien who is physically present in the United States or who arrives in the United States (whether or not at a designated port of arrival and including an alien who is brought to the United States after having been interdicted in international or United States waters), irrespective of such alien’s status, may apply for asylum in accordance with this section or, where applicable, section 1225(b) of this title.

Asylum

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