WASHINGTON–U.S. Customs and Border Protection, in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, began construction Monday on the San Diego Secondary Wall Project.
On December 20, 2018, the Customs and Border Protection awarded a contract to construct up to 14 miles of secondary wall in California within the agency’s San Diego sector. The contract was awarded to SLSCO Ltd. using Customs and Border Protection Fiscal Year 2018 appropriations.
The secondary wall project includes the replacement of existing secondary barrier with a 30 ft. tall steel bollard wall. The project is directly north to the San Diego primary fence replacement project that is currently under construction funded with FY 2017 funding. The two barriers, in combination with a patrol road and technology, create an enforcement zone for the border protection as part of a border wall system.
Given the high-density population in the San Diego-Tijuana area, the updated border infrastructure is critically needed, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The agency said border barriers, along with appropriate technology, roads and personnel, have significantly reduced illegal entry in San Diego county, however more work remains to be done.
In 2018, there were approximately 38,000 apprehensions in the San Diego region by Customs and Border Protection.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection said they will implement President Trump’s Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements – and continues to take steps to expeditiously plan, design, and construct a physical wall along the southern border, using appropriate materials and technology to most effectively achieve operational control of the southern border.
