Illegal Alien Barrier Passes First Test

Image Credit: AP Photo/Elliott Spagat, File

Original Article | Author: Michael Walsh

The Left loves to sneer at the notion of a strong wall between the United States and the illegal infiltrators coming across the southern border from Mexico. As usual, they say it can't be done, it won't work, we can't afford it -- their usual litany of reasons How Not to Do It. Oops:

Military special forces based in Florida and U.S. Customs and Border Protection special units spent three weeks trying to breach and scale the eight models in San Diego, using jackhammers, saws, torches and other tools and climbing devices, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the information was not authorized for public release.

A Customs and Border Protection report on the tests identifies strengths and flaws of each design but does not pick an overall winner or rank them, though it does point to see-through steel barriers topped by concrete as the best overall design, the official said.

The report recommends combining elements of each, depending on the terrain. The official likened it to a Lego design, pulling pieces from different prototypes.

Carlos Diaz, a spokesman for Customs and Border Protection, said the agency is still in “the testing phase” and that results are being evaluated. He said combining elements of different prototypes instead of picking a winner is consistent with previous statements by officials. He noted that the agency said in its bidding guidelines that a minimum height of 18 feet (5.4 meters) would be a key characteristic. He said he did not have additional details on test results.

At this point in the Trump presidency, wouldn't it be smarter for the Resistance Party to stop walking into door jambs, stepping on rakes, and tying their own shoelaces together? Real Americans are finally catching on to the Democrats' can't-do/won't-do playbook, which manifested itself most recently in the tax cut. Once the border wall is up -- and actually before, as the Mexicans realize we mean business -- watch the numbers of illegal "dreamers" fall precipitously.

Ronald Vitiello, the agency’s acting deputy commissioner, said after visiting the prototypes in October that he was struck most by the 30-foot (9.1-meter) heights, which are significantly higher than existing barriers. Taller barriers are undoubtedly more effective, but whether the cost is justified will be up for debate.

The highly trained testers scaled 16 to 20 feet (4.9 to 6.1 meters) unassisted but needed help after that, said the official who described the assaults on the wall prototypes to the AP. Testers also expressed safety concerns about getting down from 30 feet.

That's a thought that no doubt will occur to even the most desperate coyotes, sappers, Arabs pretending to be Mexicans, and others who have waged an unrelenting assault on U.S. sovereignty for far too long.