"Paint It Black So They Can't Climb"... Trump Issues Special Order for Mexico Border Wall

Homeland Security Chief Warns:
"Do Not Touch the Barrier"

AI-generated illustration (photo to aid article understanding). ChatGPT

U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered that the steel barrier along the Mexico border be painted black. The intention is to make the surface of the barrier, exposed to the scorching southern U.S. sun, even hotter, thereby deterring illegal border crossers.

According to Bloomberg News on the 19th (local time), Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem stated, "The entire national border barrier will be painted black," and announced that, following President Trump's directive, work had begun that day to paint the steel pillars of the barrier black.

During his first term, President Trump constructed a barrier along nearly 700 km of the 3,145 km border with Mexico. The construction was halted during the Joe Biden administration, but after returning to the White House earlier this year, President Trump declared a state of emergency in the border region immediately upon taking office and signed an executive order to resume construction of the border barrier.

Notably, last month, the federal Congress passed a budget bill allocating $47 billion (approximately 65.5 trillion won) for the construction and maintenance of the barrier. The steel barrier stands 9 meters tall, with gaps of only about 10 centimeters, making it impassable not only for people but also for large wild animals. If the barrier is painted black and the surface temperature rises, it is expected to pose an even greater obstacle for those attempting illegal entry.

At a press conference, Secretary Noem responded to concerns that "painting the barrier black creates an excessively harsh environment for would-be illegal entrants" by saying, "Don't touch the barrier. It's their choice."

Since the Trump administration took office, stricter enforcement has led to a downward trend in illegal entry attempts along the southern border. According to the El Paso sector of the Texas Border Patrol, the recent daily average number of arrests for attempted illegal entry is 41. Compared to about 400 per day last year, this represents a 90% decrease.

The Trump administration has also declared parts of the southern border region as military zones, providing grounds to deploy not only the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) but also military personnel for enforcement, thereby responding to illegal border crossers.