A new report from Washington Post reveals smuggling gangs in Mexico have been able to breach new sections of President Trump’s multi-billion dollar border wall in recent months using household power tools.
U.S. agents and border officials with knowledge of the damage told the publication that smugglers have been cutting holes in the steel and concrete portions of the wall that are big enough for people and drugs to be smuggled through.
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According to the *Post*, Trump’s so-called “virtually impenetrable” wall has been successfully breached by Mexican smugglers.
And in fact, they’re getting through the wall by using household reciprocating saws which retail at most hardware stores for around $100.
The cordless saws were reportedly fitted with specialized blades to get the job done.
Once they’re put to work, however, they’re able to slice through one of the barrier’s steel-and-concrete bollards in mere minutes.
After they’ve been cut, the steel can be pushed out of the way to allow for people and drugs to easily pass through.
According to U.S. agents, the height of the bollards, which are between 18 to 30 feet tall, make it easier for smugglers to push the steel out of the way.
A large factor in why these saws work so effectively is that the bollards are attached to a panel at the top of the wall.
Once the base of bollards have been sawed through, they simply dangle and can be moved aside.
In addition to cutting their way through, smugglers have also managed to scale and climb the barrier using makeshift ladders.
Once they’ve successfully climbed to the top of the wall, they use hooks with rope or rope ladders to descend down the other side.
This phenomenon has been confirmed by nearly a dozen U.S. agents, as well as current and former administration officials.
They told the Post that these individuals are breaching the wall, particularly in the popular smuggling areas around San Diego.
The barrier is being funded by American taxpayers and so far has a reported price tag of $10 billion.
It was Trump’s signature campaign promise during the 2016 election, one which he vowed would be paid for by Mexico.
In January, White House strategic communications director Mercedes Schlapp told reporters that U.S. taxpayers will actually be footing the bill for the wall.
As CNN reported , however, she added, “You know what else taxpayers are paying for? The financial burden of this illegal immigration.”
President Trump said he hasn’t heard any reports of cutting through the wall but said “you can cut through anything.”
“We have a very powerful wall, but no matter how powerful, you can cut through anything, in all fairness,” he told reporters at the White House.
He went on to say, “But we have a lot of people watching. Cutting is one thing, but it’s easily fixed.”
“One of the reasons we did it the way we did it, it’s very easily fixed. You put the chunk back in.”
He assured everyone that “we have a very powerful wall.”
“But,” he added, “you can cut through any wall.”
h/t: Washington Post , CNN
