The Wall: A Special Report from Texas Standard

Building a wall along the 2,000-mile border between the United States and Mexico was a signature plank of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. His win in November is bringing the reality of that proposal into focus.

The U.S. has 650 miles of existing barrier and Texas has the most border left open.

In this special report, the Texas Standard speaks with local officials, business owners, landowners and residents living and working along the border. We explore how the community in south and west Texas transcends the border. We ask about the logistics of building a wall, what Trump’s proposal means to Mexicans living across the border, how the wall would affect wildlife in the area and what a wall would mean for those working in border protection.

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Border Community Divided by Existing Barriers, Leery of New Ones
A fence already runs through town and extends for miles out to the west of Brownsville. Residents were upset when it went up and are worried an actual wall will hurt the city.

by David Brown & Rhonda Fanning

How Border Patrol Agents’ Jobs Could Change if Trump Builds a Wall

“Hopefully we can get out of the babysitting business and get back into the enforcement business where we belong.”

by Alain Stephens

Residents Concerned Wall Would Affect Cultural, Business and Familial Ties that Transcend the Border

Border-wall proponents forget that for decades before 9/11, passage between the U.S. and Mexico was easy for the towns separated by just a sliver of the Rio Grande.

by Rachel Osier Lindley

Mexico Proposes Legislation to Counter Border Wall Expansion

Should Trump follow through on threats to expand the wall, withdraw U.S. participation in NAFTA or stop remittances, Mexico could target American assets in Mexico – assets estimated to cost over $100 billion.

by Lorne Matalon