Trump's wall takes 'tangible' step forward as initial contractors announced

Prototypes for Donald Trump's promised wall are forthcoming

The US-Mexico border wall between Ciudad Juarez and New Mexico (Reuters)

Plans for a border wall dividing America from Mexico took a small step forward as the government announced who had won contracts to build prototypes for the barrier.

While a Customs and Border Patrol official portrayed the news as a significant step for Donald Trump’s signature campaign promise, the wall Mr Trump promised his supporters has faced legal challenges and ongoing questions about Congress’ willingness to allocate the billions needed for construction. An internal Department of Homeland Security study that leaked to the media estimated the cost at $21.6 billion.

That total dwarfs the cost of awarding contracts to four companies chosen to build concrete models at a cost of around $400,000 to $500,000 each according to United States Customs and Border Patrol said. A call for proposals stipulated structures that are 30 feet tall, deter climbing and are see-through - as the president demanded.

In a conference announcing the contracts, Deputy Commissioner Ronald Vitiello displayed images of an 150-foot “enforcement zone” that border agents would be able to monitor.

“We’re not just asking for a physical structure. We’re asking for all the tools that help us secure the border”, Mr Vitiello said.

“There’s nothing lethal in this”, Mr Vitiello added in response to a question about features allowing agents to halt would-be border crossers.

The announcement came as Donald Trump has struggled to finance his central campaign promise. Mexico has flatly rejected paying for it, despite Mr Trump assuring his supporters to the contrary, and Mr Trump has threatened a government shutdown if Congress does not allocate needed funding.

Despite those headwinds, Mr Vitiello portrayed the contract awards as a “significant milestone”.

“This is the first tangible result of the action planning that has gone on”, Mr Vitiello said, adding that “this is the first new initiative that adds to our bigger plans”.