On Tuesday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that the Trump administration will paint the entire southern border wall black to improve its effectiveness as a deterrent. Speaking at the wall in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, Noem explained that President Donald Trump specifically requested the measure. She said the dark color will absorb heat in the high desert temperatures, making the wall hotter and therefore more difficult to climb, while also extending the lifespan of the metal.
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Kristi Noem :Strengthening the Wall and Expanding Border Security Efforts
She emphasized that the wall already stands tall, extends deep into the ground, and resists scaling or digging, but said this new measure will strengthen it further to discourage illegal crossings and encourage migrants to enter the United States legally.
Noem credited Congress for passing a “big, beautiful bill” in July that provides significant resources and allows construction crews to build nearly half a mile of wall each day. She added that the bill also funds new technologies, including cameras, sensors, and waterborne infrastructure, which will secure the border well into the future.
She stressed that the administration is securing not only the southern frontier but also the northern border, reflecting Trump’s belief that “a nation without borders is no nation at all,” and she highlighted the importance of border security to America’s future.
Border Patrol Reports Sharp Decline in Crossings and Gotaways
Noem appeared with several Border Patrol officials, including Interim Chief Patrol Agent Walter Slosar of the El Paso Sector. Slosar reported that agents now apprehend an average of 41 migrants per day—compared to 2,300 daily during the Biden administration in 2023—with most detainees being single adults from Mexico, Guatemala, and Ecuador.
He added that under Biden, agents often only “observed” migrants crossing, but today illegal entrants actively “run” from authorities. He noted that agents are increasing apprehensions, reducing “gotaways” to their lowest levels ever, and placing more individuals under criminal charges while ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations remove them from the United States in coordination with the Department of Justice.
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