Support NeoGAF

[Consequence]

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-immigration-wall-exclusive-idUSKBN15O2ZN

President Donald Trump’s “wall” along the U.S.-Mexico border would be a series of fences and walls that would cost as much as $21.6 billion, and take more than three years to construct, based on a U.S. Department of Homeland Security internal report seen by Reuters on Thursday.

The report’s estimated price-tag is much higher than a $12-billion figure cited by Trump in his campaign and estimates as high as $15 billion from Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

The report is expected to be presented to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary John Kelly in coming days, although the administration will not necessarily take actions it recommends.

 

[SlipperyFishes]

Incredible value versus putting that money into healthcare subsidies right? /s

Wonder what the annual maintenance and manning cost would be.

 

[Mr.Sumal]

ahead of schedule and under budget lol

 

[Disxo]

Thats not as expensive as I thought, but still a waste of funds.

 

[rjinaz]

Does that include the many times the wall "got 10 feet higher"?

 

[Gallbaro]

Done Keynesian spending!

 

[Nafai1123]

Bet it costs more than that.

 

[Dishwalla]

How much is it going to cost to maintain? Or tear down in a decade when we decide we don't want it anymore?

 

[Firebrand]

Does that figure include Tunnel Technology™?

 

[kess]

Thats not as expensive as I thought, but still a waste of funds.

The Iraq War was supposed to be cheap too.

 

[zma1013]

$21.6 billion project that is defeated by someone with a ladder.

 

[Fantastapotamus]

But it'll keep the bad hombres out

 

[Chuck Norris]

Half of what the Government spent on the entirety of renewable energy and the environment in 2015

For a wall.

 

[mugurumakensei]

$21.6 billion project that is defeated by someone with a ladder.

Or a boat or a tunnel.

 

[rjinaz]

How much is it going to cost to maintain? Or tear down in a decade when we decide we don't want it anymore?

I don't imagine we'll ever tear it down. But at some point I would guess we'll get tired of the yearly maintenance fees which is well into the millions.

 

[smokeandmirrors]

yep nothing better we could use that money for, no sir.

 

[Fat_Caddis]

A billion = a thousand million. Let that sink in.

 

[BinaryPork2737]

And just think of how expensive it'll be when you factor inflation and maintenance into the mix.

In addition to seeking eminent domain and environmental waivers, the U.S. government would also have to meet the requirements of the International Boundary and Water Commission, a U.S.-Mexico pact over shared waters. The report estimated that agreement alone could bring the cost from $11 million per mile to $15 million per mile in one area.

I don't think he cares about any agreements with Mexico, so he'll probably brush the requirements aside, just like with everything else he does.

 

[rjinaz]

$21.6 billion project that is defeated by someone with a ladder.

Um to be fair, you also need at least a rope to get down. Let's not exaggerate!

 

[WhiteRabbitEXE]

3.5 years.

Hah.

Hahaha.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

 

[ascii42]

Or a boat or a tunnel.

Or a plane ticket.

 

[captive]

so probably closer to 40 billion and 7 years?

 

[zma1013]

Um to be fair, you also need at least a rope to get down. Let's not exaggerate!

Not even that. Just straddle the wall and pick the ladder up and hoist it over to the other side.

 

[Knuckle Sandwich]

Fiscal conservatism ladies and gents.

 

[GK86]

How about using some of that money to fix Flint's water system?

 

[Alex_Mexico]

Everytime Trump threatens us our Peso gets devaluated more and this asshole wants Mexico to pay $20 billion for that stupid crap? With the Peso as it is in part because of him? Good luck with that!

 

[Slayer-33]

What a freaking waste of money

 

[BoosterDuck]

wow what a joke, those illegals are in for a real kerfuffle, grats Trump

 

[rjinaz]

Not even that. Just straddle the wall and pick the ladder up and hoist it over to the other side.

...you seem like you have a lot of experience. Not one of them are you?

Where's my race whistle?

 

[Soul Beat]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Good luck with that.

Spoiler

Our tunnels are ready.

 

[Ecotic]

It will take longer. A big, controversial government program such as this that doesn't enjoy bipartisan support will go over budget and over schedule.

If Democrats win either chamber of Congress in 2018 it will likely be halted midway.

 

[ItAintEasyBeinCheesy]

so probably closer to 40 billion and 7 years?

With all the money they'll be syphoning off, pretty close.

 

[rjinaz]

Everytime Trump threatens us our Peso gets devaluated more and this asshole wants Mexico to pay $20 billion for that stupid crap? With the Peso as it is in part because of him? Good luck with that!

Easy D wants a lot of things, like a Muslim ban. But he doesn't always get his way. Mexico will never pay for this wall.

 

[WhiteRabbitEXE]

so probably closer to 40 billion and 7 years?

It'll take AT LEAST a decade to finish.

 

[Chezzymann]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Good luck with that.

Spoiler

Our tunnels are ready.

10 feet deeper!

 

[Loudninja]

Sure lol.

 

[RumblingRosco]

It will take longer. A big, controversial government program such as this that doesn't enjoy bipartisan support will go over budget and over schedule.

If Democrats win either chamber of Congress in 2018 it will likely be halted midway.

Yep. This is such an incredible money sink with very little upside.

 

[Toxi]

If this wall actually is finished by the end of 2020, I'll eat my own socks.

 

[KillGore]

Doesn't seem like a lot for what money the US has or spends on other things. Not saying it's a good idea btw, just saying that for the trillions, 21 billion doesn't seem that big in comparison. Still shitty.

 

[Cerium]

And how much will it cost the cartels to dig under them?

 

[Soul Beat]

10 feet deeper!

Curse you, Tunnel Technology!™

 

[Korigama]

Hahaha, they're not finishing that garbage in 3.5 years.

 

[B-Dubs]

How about using some of that money to fix Flint's water system?

And replace all the lead pipes in our schools.

 

[Plywood]

But fuck welfare and healthcare right?

 

[theepicoftyler]

Don't buy it. I'm in the business of building prefab cell phone towers (environmental consulting) and those take forever to get through engineering, surveying, architecture, etc.

There are projects that I started working on over a year ago that are still in limbo due to random issues related to environmental or easement issues.

Government or not, they'll still be relying on private contractors and the realities of nature.

 

[VendettaRed07]

3.5 years?!

Bull fucking shit

It takes 2 years to build a fucking football stadium ( I get that it's different but whatever you get the point)

 

[captive]

It'll take AT LEAST a decade to finish.

yea i forgot, it took austin ten years to finish the 71 freeway into Austin. They were literally already working on it when i went to college in 2003 and didnt finish it until after i graduated in 2008.

 

[JHoNNy1OoO]

Just like the Iraq War fucked over Americans and their infrastructure. This wall will be no different if it comes to fruition.

 

[Madness]

How much is it going to cost to maintain? Or tear down in a decade when we decide we don't want it anymore?

No US president will ever tear down the wall if it gets built. That would be political suicide, even in a nation that 30 years from now could be majority hispanic in demographics.

I very much doubt it would take 3.5 years for the wall to be built. US infrastructure in the era of bureaucracy and red tape mean it seems more like 10 years than 3.5 years.

Whether it is worth it, you have to realize, look what happened in Europe in places like Hungary which erected border fences when they faced just tens of thousands of refugees across the border. The US has sustained over 13 million+ people cross the open border for the past few decades. And while Mexican crossings have dropped sharply, central American and south american crossings have never been higher. Will a wall stop them? No. Humanity has long migrated in search of a better life and opportunities. But a wall will make it harder than what exists now which is essentially sparse areas of fencing and border agents in jeeps who then try and locate people hiding etc. I fully expect tunnels and ladders and holes in the wall to occur but as evident in India and Israel, border walls cam drop unlawful entries. Let's hope they keep DACA though. Makes no sense deporting people who are American in everything but name.

 

[madstarr12]

Such a pointless endeavor. I'd bet that many Upper-midwest people who voted for him liked this idea because "Mexicans were stealing our jobs". Yes, Mexicans are the reason why you don't have a job in Columbus, Ohio......