Trump’s wall plan

US President forges ahead

US: The Trump administration has proposed spending $A25 billion during 10 years to significantly extend the border wall with Mexico, providing one of its most detailed blueprints of how the President hopes to carry out a signature campaign pledge.

The proposal by Customs and Border Protection calls for 505km of additional barrier by September 2027, bringing total coverage to 1552km, or nearly half the border, according to a US official with direct knowledge of the matter.

It also calls for 651km of replacement or secondary fencing, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the plan has not been made public.

Mr Trump has promised “a big, beautiful wall” with Mexico as a centrepiece of his presidency but offered few details of where it would be built, when and at what cost. His adminis- tration asked for $US1.6 billion this year to build or replace 118km of fencing in Texas and California, and officials have said they also will seek $US1.6 billion next year.

Mexico has steadfastly rejected Mr Trump’s demand that it pay for the wall and few doubt that US taxpayers will foot the bill if the wall is built.

The Customs and Border Protection document calls for a total of $US33 billion in new border spending, including $US18 billion for the wall, $US5.7 billion for technology gear, $US1 billion for road construction and maintenance and $8.5 billion for 5000 new Border Patrol agents, 2500 border inspectors and other personnel, the US official said.

An administration official confirmed the document was prepared at the request of congressional negotiators and said funding for the wall and other security measures must be part of any legislative package on immigration.