The Department of Homeland Security is asking companies if they would like to build stretches of the border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
The proposal may result in the fast-track construction of border walls by teams of private contractors, likely aided by government lawyers who can quickly settle legal disputes over environmental claims.
Once President Donald Trump focused his attention on the problem in February 2019, he declared a national emergency and transferred billions of Pentagon dollars for construction. So far, almost 200 miles of border wall have been upgraded, but only a few miles of border wall have been built in areas where there were no barriers. Officials are rushing to build — or sign contracts for — roughly 450 miles by the end of 2020.
The “Private Party Construction” proposal was quietly announced May 29 by DHS’s Customs and Border Protection agency:
CBP recognizes that private entities and non-governmental organizations also have an interest in supporting the mission of border protection, by deploying private wall solutions. Mainly, those parties that can arrange private financing, and private acquisition of land may have an interest in devising a wall structure that is consistent with government specifications.
The proposal did not say if the companies would be repaid by the government for building a border barrier through deserts, scrub, and rocks.
The proposal listed 30 sections of the border wall that need to be completed, including:
- San Diego primary barrier project (~3 miles) — New primary located in a rural environment with A-1 legacy barrier located to the West. This is flat, low-lying valley terrain.
- Tucson secondary project (~25 miles) — New secondary located in both urban and rural environments. This would complement existing primary barrier. The terrain varies here from flat urban areas to rocky and mountainous.
- El Paso secondary project (~47.92 miles) — New secondary located in a remote environment. This would close gaps where there are temporary Normandy barriers. The terrain varying from flat plains to very mountainous.
- Del Rio primary pedestrian replacement project (~.26 miles) — New primary pedestrian located in both urban and rural environments. This would complement existing PF225 legacy primary barrier to the east. The terrain is relatively flat.
- Del Rio primary pedestrian project (~.03 miles) — New primary pedestrian located in both urban and rural environments. This area is currently devoid of existing barrier. The terrain is relatively flat.
The proposal invited bids from “outside parties with the appropriate resources, certification, conforming to relevant environmental and building regulations may have the technical capacity, and engineering competency to develop the border wall on private or public property.”
However, the idea is at a very early stage. “No funds have been authorized, appropriated, or received for this effort. CBP may use the responses to inform its development of future border wall infrastructure requirements,” the proposal said.
read more here: https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2020/06/05/dhs-proposes-private-party-construction-of-border-wall/
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