The border wall that separates Mexico from the U.S. will be painted black as a way to deter illegal immigrates from crossing over.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem made the announcement Tuesday about the color change, which was an idea by President Donald Trump, per the Associated Press.
The theory behind the black paint is that it will get very hot under the beating sun at the border.
Noem visited a part of the wall in New Mexico and even helped with the painting as she grabbed a roller.
The walls dimensions are also a deterrent, she said as she pointed out the height and depth of the wall.
“That is specifically at the request of the president, who understands that in the hot temperatures down here when something is painted black it gets even warmer and it will make it even harder for people to climb. So we are going to be painting the entire southern border wall black to make sure that we encourage individuals to not come into our country illegally,” Noem said.
The paint will also help the wall from rusting, U.S. Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks said at the event.
The wall has been a priority for Trump since his first time in the White House. That priority has continued into his second administration as Homeland Security will receive about $46 billion to finish the wall.
Congress OK’d the funding this summer.
Noem added that about a half mile of the wall has been built every day.
“The border wall will look very different based on the topography and the geography of where it is built,” she said.
She said the department is also working on “water-borne infrastructure” since large parts of the wall are located along the Rio Grande River in Texas.
She also posted about the developments at the wall on X.
“Today marks seven months of @POTUS
Trump’s second term,” she wrote. “When we got to work, America faced the worst border crisis in history. Today, that crisis isn’t just under control— it’s been obliterated.”
This wall is part of the difference. Too high to climb. Too narrow to squeeze through. And now, at the President’s direction, it will be painted black— so hot to the touch that criminal illegal aliens won’t even try,” she continued.
“This wall doesn’t work alone. It helps our agents do their job. It stands as both shield and symbol: a monument to President Trump’s unshakable commitment to this country and the safety of the American people,” Noem added.
