US-Mexico Border Wall: Pentagon Authorizes $1bn Transfer

By Staff, Agencies

The Pentagon authorized the transfer of $1bn to army engineers for new wall construction along the US-Mexico border.

The funds are the first under the national emergency declared by US President Donald Trump to bypass Congress and build the barrier he pledged during his election campaign.

Democrats protested against the move.

The funds will be used to build about 91km of fencing.

Trump called the situation at the southern border a "crisis" and insists a physical barrier is needed to stop criminals crossing into the US. His critics say he has manufactured the border emergency.

A Pentagon statement said acting US War Secretary Patrick Shanahan had "authorized the commander of the US Army Corps of Engineers to begin planning and executing up to $1bn in support to the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Patrol".

The statement cited a federal law that gives the War Department the authority to construct roads and fences and to install lighting to block drug-smuggling corridors across international boundaries of the United States in support of counter-narcotic activities of federal law enforcement agencies".