How to build the Trump wall, and what residents of the border regions think about it

Less than a year is left before the US presidential election. President Donald Trump’s administration has set itself the goal of building a wall over 900 km long on the Mexican border this year.

Stopping the flow of illegal immigrants was at the heart of the president's re-election campaign. Having received no money from Congress, Donald Trump called the situation at the border an emergency and allocated more than $3,5 billion from the Pentagon budget. Active work is already underway, and land is being purchased from owners of border areas. How local residents in Texas react to this, correspondents tell "VOA«.

The Rio Grande River creates a natural border between America and Mexico. Now, on the initiative of Donald Trump, they want to build a wall along it that should protect the United States from the influx of immigrants. There were barriers on the part of the border territories before. They were built by previous presidents.

On the subject: For whom immigration to the United States can be a fatal mistake

“Right now we're being watched by two or three different cameras, a helicopter, border guards, and maybe there are also sensors here that give a signal that someone is here,” says community activist Jonathan Salinas, who is working with others to protect Rio Grande Valley from border wall construction. He is also fighting to preserve the historic Lalomita Church. It was built in the middle of the 19th century. It is of great importance to local residents.

“The border wall is built on top of earthworks. They want to create a so-called law enforcement zone to the south of these embankments towards the river. There will be a 50-meter zone where everything will be cleared: churches and parts of nature reserves,” says Salinas.

Last year, activists managed to protect the church from destruction, but Jonathan fears that this may be temporary.

On the subject: 6 habits that only Americans have

New sections of the wall have already begun to be built near the church. According to the plan, more than 900 km of the barrier should be built along the border in different states over the year. In some places - in private areas of people.

One of them is Mortin Molina. His great-grandfather bought this land a century and a half ago. Forests and farmland on the border still belong to his family, which grows vegetables and hunts. Building a wall can prevent this.

“An official came to us and wanted us to sign an agreement to build a wall. I refused to sign anything. This is the place where we hunt doves, quails, and fish. Now it is impossible to do this. They take away where we vacationed, our family value,” says Molina.

On the subject: Do immigrants in the United States become real Americans

“Once I went to shoot and met border guards. They asked what I was doing here. In response, I also asked what they were doing there. This is our property. I have nothing against them. They are there to patrol, but they cannot prohibit me from being on their territory,” he added.

Molina showed on his territory the marks that the wall construction company had installed, as well as a pump pumping water from the river to irrigate its fields. Soon he will not be able to use it and does not imagine what to do next.

On the opposite bank is Mexico. At this point the river is shallow, so crossing it is not difficult. “Last year, from 400 to 800 people crossed the border illegally every day in this part. Now - on average 30-40 people per day. This is in some way connected with US immigration policy and the fact that Mexico is also taking on illegal immigrants,” says Francisco Garcia, deputy police chief of the city of Roma.

On the subject: What Ukrainian wives teach American husbands

Garcia added that most of the calls they receive are from locals who see people at their sites. He believes that the wall alone will not solve the issue of illegal immigration. People will find another way and place to cross the border.

Read also on ForumDaily:

Conflicts in the family: lawyers talked about how to protect yourself and your immigration status

The Trump administration plans a series of new immigration rules: what will change

Visas and jobs: Utah authorities have proposed a new solution to the immigration problem

'Extreme' adaptation: how to deal with the shocks in emigration

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.