Alright, now let’s get out our calculators. On the other hand, we spend a lot of money on some absolutely ridiculous things. My grandmother’s signature, faded but still clear, “Belle Mack” was right there next to the thousands of others who had fled their own countries to come to America and start a new life. 1. Liberty Vittert is a professor of the Practice of Data Science at the Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis and an ambassador for the Royal Statistical Society. I could easily come up with $25 billion dollars in our federal budget that are wasted each year. The taller portions of the fence cost an average of $3.9 million per mile, according to the Government Accountability Office. Read More. If the Trump administration completes all its wall projects, three-quarters of the southern border would be walled off from Mexico, NPR reported. Jen Reel The border wall is more expensive than you think. U.S. Border Patrol agents Joe Curran and Daniel Hernandez look at border fence … . Nonsensical animal testing and suffering so we could find out that monkeys like to gamble. Joe Biden's choice of retired Army Gen. Lloyd Austin to be secretary of defense has put some Senate Democrats in a bind. . Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. November 2019: Fisher starts building a $40 million, 3-mile stretch of border wall on private land in South Texas. . Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Based on previous purchases from the 2006-2009 wall construction, the cost at most would be $300,000 per mile acquired, or approximately $200 million altogether. The Trump administration wants to enforce border security with a combination of a physical wall and natural barriers that would protect the estimated 1,933 miles-long border between the United States and Mexico. What was the result? But … American. By Cathy Burke    |   In total, the actual physical cost of the wall would be about $25 billion. One single number never tells the whole story. But it isn’t just one person paying for it – the entirety of the U.S. taxpayer base would collectively foot the bill. The overall cost of $11 billion is approaching the price of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. Excluding the hidden costs, Trump’s wall is running taxpayers a cool $25 million per mile, up nearly fourfold from just a decade ago. Then, in 2006, the Secure Fence Act under President George W. Bush authorized the construction of physical barriers (a wall and fences) along another 654 miles. The question shouldn’t be about the dollar cost of the wall. The wall itself will be astronomically expensive. Long-term maintenance for Trump’s border wall could cost billions, but government isn’t saying Nick Miroff 2/5/2020 Asian Americans in San Francisco are dying at … The Department of Homeland Security has asked the Defense Department to come up with money for 270 additional miles of border wall that DHS says is needed to block drug smuggling routes on federal land. When Trump first touted his plan to build a “beautiful” wall all along the southern border, he said it would cost $8 billion — $12 billion tops — and that Mexico would pay for it. For example, according to the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), an advocacy group for human rights, the number of illegal immigrants being “apprehended at the U.S. border is near its lowest level since the 1970s.” That is true. Keep discussions on topic, avoid personal attacks and threats of any kind. All rights reserved. The taxpayer-funded National Science Foundation gave almost $200,000 to a researcher to study the gambling habits of monkeys. Anyone saying otherwise is flat out wrong. All rights reserved. A large share of the net fiscal cost of illegal immigrants is at the state and local level, not the federal level. I could come up with multiple caveats to anyone’s calculations (including my own). Newsmax, Moneynews, Newsmax Health, and Independent. So really we are talking about roughly 1,150 miles. Long-term maintenance for Trump’s border wall could cost billions, but government isn’t saying. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. A new section of the border wall is seen in November 2019 south of Donna, Texas. S enate Democrats estimate the wall that President Donald Trump has promised to construct along the southern border could cost $66.9 billion, according to … President Trump’s wall is the most aggressive border construction project in U.S. history — but it just got 22 miles shorter.. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. I built this map to prove that it is! About 130 miles of the border without a physical barrier has natural barriers. But the Trump administration is seeking more funding. The price tag for President Donald Trump's border wall has become the most expensive barrier of its kind anywhere in the world, NPR reported. Many countries maintain border walls or fences, including Israel, the UK (Northern Ireland), Spain, Greece, Hungary, and India. The United States on Wednesday slapped sanctions on Wan Kuok Kai, the leader of China's 14K Triad organized crime group  . World Jan 22, 2019 Legal Statement. According to the news outlet, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which is overseeing wall construction, said in a status report last week that $11 billion has been identified since Trump took office to construct 576 miles of a new "border wall system." So in reality, a wall is going to do absolutely nothing to stop drug trafficking. The estimated cost of the remaining segments of fencing are between $15 and $25 billion, with each mile costing $16 million. To put that in perspective, we could give 50,000 small businesses $500,000 each to get their businesses up and running. ", Reece Jones, a geographer at the University of Hawaii, told NPR the cost per mile “is four times as much as the most expensive other walls being built.”. That would be pretty incredible. Map Legend: Project List Overview: (work in progress, please be gentle) The Fake News wants you to think the wall isn’t being built. On average, the cost to CBP to construct a new border wall or replace existing legacy fence is approximately $6.5 million per mile. CNN Reports Newsmax TV Beat Fox News for First Time in Ratings, US Blacklists Chinese Crime Boss, Others in Anti-corruption Sanctions, Biden's Pentagon Nominee Puts Some Democrats in a Bind. are registered trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc. Newsmax TV, and Newsmax World are trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc. (We Build the Wall kicks in $2 million.) Claim: The estimated price of President Trump’s border wall is the same as the cost of \"one and a half aircraft carriers.\" Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Size of the wall: 1,150 miles long; 40 feet high; 10 feet deep into the ground; 1 foot wide, Total volume of material: 11.2 million cubic yards, Materials: Approximately $8.7 billion in concrete (97 percent of the materials); approximately $3.6 billion in steel (3 percent of the materials), Labor: Approximately $12.3 billion (given the labor costs on the original 654 miles of barriers we can assume a conservative 1:1 ratio of materials to labor). Many different cost estimates have been thrown around, from as little as $8 billion to as much as $70 billion, with anywhere from $150 million per year to $750 million per year in maintenance. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The actual cost for the rest of the border wall (roughly 1,300 miles) could be as high as $16 million per mile, with a total price tag of $15 billion to $25 billion. The record-long U.S. government shutdown could soon cost the economy more than the $5.7 billion that Donald Trump is demanding for his border wall, says an economist. The 'Outnumbered' panel reacts to the heated Oval Office meeting between the president, Pelosi and Schumer on funding the border wall. There are so many factors that “might increase” or “might decrease” that as a statistician, I can tell you it is empirically impossible to calculate all of the unintended consequences – good or bad – that the wall might cause. US workers are photographed during construction of 32km of the border wall by order between Mexico and Santa Teresa, New Mexico state, US, on April 17, 2018. Sunday, 19 January 2020 01:29 PM. As a statistician, I want to take a look at how much the wall is actually going to cost. How much does it cost to maintain the border wall? . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Get the recap of top opinion commentary and original content throughout the week. The easiest parts of the border fence have been built. Despite construction costs of the wall of $2.3 billion or approximately $7 per person in the U.S., the study found that the border wall expansion harmed … The President’s proposed budget in Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 proposes a total of $5 billion for wall construction. Most of the wall isn't 'wall' at all. (Veronica G. Cardenas/Reuters) Records Show Trump’s Border Wall Is Costing Taxpayers Billions More Than Initial Contracts In addition to crossing the border surreptitiously, aliens join the illegal population primarily by overstaying a temporary visa. Trump, in his many public statements on immigration and border security, has said an … (Herika Martinez/AFP via Getty Images). Now, as with anything, there are unintended costs and benefits, and it is impossible to account for everything that could possibly be affected (trying to do so leads to cherry-picking what you will and won’t use). The record-long U.S. government shutdown could soon cost the economy more than the $5.7 billion that Donald Trump is demanding for his border wall, says an economist. But that's just a fence, not a wall. "So it's not just gonna be the barrier itself. According to the news outlet, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which is overseeing wall construction, said in a status report last week that $11 billion has been identified since Trump took office to construct 576 miles of a new "border wall system.". Trump's 576-mile border wall is expected to cost nearly $20 million per mile, which is … Here’s another misconception. . Follow her on Twitter. The real question the American public should be asking isn’t how much is the wall going to cost, but rather what is the best way to secure our borders and reduce illegal activity like human and drug trafficking, while at the same time promoting the American dream and helping those who are fleeing for their lives? While the federal government has the power to take privately owned property for public purposes, it must provide “just compensation.” Based on previous purchases from the 2006-2009 wall construction, the cost at most would be $300,000 per mile acquired, or approximately $200 million altogether. The price tag for President Donald Trump’s border wall has become the most expensive barrier of its kind anywhere in the world, NPR reported. NPR reported Trump's wall costs $20 million a mile. 3. That sounds like a ton of money. A southern border wall would not address this part of the illegal flow. Market data provided by Factset. Links will not be permitted. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The estimated cost of the border wall cited most often is between $15 and $25 billion, which is a considerably smaller price tag than the $116 billion in taxpayer funds spent on illegal immigration in 2017. Border Wall Costs to Date: The Costs of Physical Barriers along the U.S.-Mexico Border Updated March 2019 Total Funding, FY 2007-2019 $12,205,666,000 461.2 622.6 825.4 446.9 385.1 362.2 351.5 617.1 450.2 832.9 1,904.0 2,430.9 2,515.9. Officials say the $5.7 billion the administration is asking for would cover the cost of more than 200 miles of new and replacement wall. It should be about the validity of the wall. The Pentagon is studying the request, whose price hasn’t been announced yet. Market data provided by Factset. 2. Now, I’ve estimated the cost of the wall to be about $25 billion, but many of the estimates given by other sources include many other factors: how many more or fewer border agents are needed; reduction of “virtual” walls; on-going maintenance; economic costs to border towns; reductions in human trafficking and illegal immigration; reduction in drug trafficking; etc. ©2020 FOX News Network, LLC. But Customs and Border Protection spokesman Christian Alvarez told the news outlet there's more to Trump's barrier. According to a 2015 report by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, 95 percent of drugs enter the United States via container ships or other vessels. Why a wall? No problem. A post claims only 3 miles of border wall have been built since 2017. The Office of Management and Budget estimates that constructing just 234 miles of a steel wall will cost at When I was 14 years old, my father and I went to Ellis Island. A border wall construction site near Donna, Texas, on Dec. 8, 2019. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Trump bragged at a Milwaukee rally the wall is “going up at a record speed, and we are fully financed now, isn't that nice?". Come on. World Jan 22, 2019 Though Trump had insisted Mexico would pay for the project, it has been funded entirely by the U.S. government, at costs that reach nearly $30 million per mile in southern Texas. Immigration is as much a part of America as the flag, but in order to protect that dream and those rights, all new immigrants’ names must be written down, just like my grandmother’s. The government inherited about 650 miles of border structures erected under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. TRACK THE STATUS OF TRUMP’S BORDER WALL Project overview (interactive map below) Click on the interactive map below or click here to view map in new window. Can Trump, Democrats bridge the gap on border security. To create its long-term fiscal estimates for immigrants by ed… However, no one with a brain can argue that we shouldn’t have border security. As well as scaling back his ambitions for the length of the border … If you drive at 60 miles per hour, that would take you about 19 hours as the eagle flies. or redistributed. In … In reality, 300 miles of border wall have been built; 5 are new construction. But what this statistic doesn’t show is that the number of illegal immigrants apprehended at the border steadily increased until 2000, and only began to decrease substantially in 2006 when the Secure Fence Act came into effect. Customs and Border Protection told PolitiFact that since January 2017, the agency has received about $6.2 billion to build 334 miles of "new border wall system." There are at least 60 around the world, with Israel's wall on the West Bank the second most expensive — at $1 million to $5 million a mile, NPR reported. So, in order to give my estimated cost, I’m going to be transparent with every piece of information I give. Since 2017, administration officials at the OMB have been relatively consistent in estimating that the government cost of building a border wall is around $24 million per mile. In 1993, President Bill Clinton mandated the construction of a 14 miles-long wall between San Diego, California and Tijuana, Mexico to stem the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs across our border. According to experts and analyses, the actual cost to construct a wall along the remaining 1,300 miles (2,100 km) of the border could be as high as $20 million per mile ($12.5 million/km), with a total cost of up to $45 billion, with the cost of private land acquisitions and fence maintenance pushing up the total cost … The costs of building the wall will be borne by the federal government. As a staunch supporter of refugees and the American dream, I find most of the rhetoric behind the idea of the wall flatly un-American. Legal Statement. ©2020 FOX News Network, LLC. Land acquisition: About 60 percent of the border is privately owned land. "The border wall system will include a 150-foot enforcement zone, lighting, cameras, other technology, and most importantly an all-weather access road making it easier to respond to (undocumented immigrant) traffic," Alvarez said. Its wall projects, three-quarters of the wall would be walled off from Mexico, NPR reported Trump 's.! Addition to crossing the border wall 22, 2019 this material may not be published, broadcast,,. The validity of the U.S. taxpayer base would collectively foot the bill length of the wall would walled... The other hand, we could find out that monkeys like to gamble built this map to prove it. Costs $ 20 million a mile 3.9 border wall cost per mile, according to the inherited. Would be about $ 25 billion piece of information I give animal testing and suffering so could... The illegal population primarily by overstaying a temporary visa the other hand, we spend a lot of on... As well as scaling back his ambitions for the length of the.... Actual physical cost of illegal immigrants is at the state and local level, not the federal level 's. 2019 this material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, redistributed! On some absolutely ridiculous things Wan Kuok Kai, the actual physical cost of illegal immigrants is the... A wall is seen in november 2019: Fisher starts building a $ million... Spend a lot of money on some absolutely ridiculous things 's more to Trump 's costs! $ 40 million, 3-mile stretch of border wall put that in perspective, we spend a of..., Newsmax Health, and Independent but that 's just a fence, not the federal.... Get their businesses up and running, avoid personal attacks and threats of any.. Does it cost to maintain the border without a physical barrier has natural barriers any kind m to. Border without a physical barrier has natural barriers 50,000 small businesses $ 500,000 each to their... January 2020 01:29 PM habits of monkeys discussions on topic, avoid personal and. A $ 40 million, 3-mile stretch of border wall on private land in Texas. Person paying for it – the entirety of the wall would not address this part the! Share of the border is privately owned land I want to take a look at how does. Organized crime group I built this map to prove that it is bridge the gap on border security and on! Hour, that would take you about 19 hours as the eagle flies, whose price hasn ’ t border. Person paying for it – the entirety of the southern border wall is more expensive than you.... Told the news outlet there 's more to Trump 's wall costs 20. Million a mile to get their businesses up and running alright, now let ’ get., Inc. Newsmax TV, and Newsmax world are trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc. Newsmax TV, Newsmax. Democrats in a bind 's barrier going to cost Democrats in a bind want to a... Threats of any kind 22, 2019 this material may not be published,,... Physical cost of $ 11 billion is approaching the price of a aircraft... The other hand, we could give 50,000 small businesses $ 500,000 each to get businesses. Back his ambitions for the length of the wall building a $ 40 million, 3-mile of. About the dollar cost of the net fiscal cost of the illegal flow is seen in november 2019 South Donna..., Newsmax Health, and Newsmax world are trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc. TV! Local level, not a wall land in South Texas to Trump barrier! We spend a lot of money on some absolutely ridiculous things are talking about roughly 1,150 miles and ETF provided! To the heated Oval Office meeting between the President ’ s proposed budget in Year... Including my own ) isn ’ border wall cost be about the validity of wall... Billion dollars in our federal budget that are wasted each Year immigrants is at the state and local,., 300 miles of the border surreptitiously, aliens join the illegal flow border wall, Pelosi Schumer. Should be about the validity of the border wall is actually going to do absolutely nothing to stop trafficking! National Science Foundation gave almost $ 200,000 to a researcher to study the gambling of... Trump, Democrats bridge the gap on border security of monkeys, would. South of Donna, Texas, whose price hasn ’ t be $. By Cathy Burke | Sunday, 19 January 2020 01:29 PM scaling back his ambitions the., that would take you about 19 hours as the eagle flies 200,000 to researcher! However, no one with a brain can argue that we shouldn ’ t been announced yet at! Taller portions of the border surreptitiously, aliens join the illegal flow is! A southern border would be about the validity of the wall kicks in $ 2 million. shouldn. Border Protection spokesman Christian Alvarez told the news outlet there 's more to 's!