The federal government said Tuesday that contractors began building eight prototypes of President Donald Trump’s proposed border wall with Mexico, hitting a milestone toward a key campaign pledge.
Construction in San Diego began three months behind schedule after those who didn’t win contracts protested.
The building process will last about 30 days, Customs and Border Protection said.
The agency may pick several winners, or none. It said in a news release that the prototypes ‘will inform future design standards which will likely continue to evolve to meet the U.S. Border Patrol’s requirements.’
But the agency is also braced for massive protests and is beginning construction under tight security, the San Deigo Union-Tribune reported.
Ring of steel: Law enforcement has flooded into the area where construction is beginning of prototypes of the border wall
On patrol; Mounted border agents are operating behind the chain link fences which mark the area where construction is beginning
Here it is: A construction worker gets to work on building the first prototypes of the wall
Keynote pledge: Trump campaigned on building the wall and having Mexico pay. Now Customers and Border Protection say work has begun on prototypes
One model: This is one version of how Trump’s border wall could look. Construction is now beginning on the prototypes
Guarded: An agent on duty near the existing security fence. CBP are braced for massive protests at their construction site nearby
The details of the design remain unclear. Each prototype will be up to 30 feet high and 30 feet long.
Bidding documents say four of the prototypes are to be solid concrete and four are to be made of ‘other materials.’
Trump said Friday that the wall should be see-through, appearing to cast doubt on the concrete designs.
The construction site is close to the existing high-security fence which marks the border through San Diego and to the east.
Already there are fears of protests as big as those at the Dakota Access Pipeline last year, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Concrete barriers have been placed at access points to the construction site and chain link fences have been built across open land.
One area could be being designated a ‘free speech zone’ for protesters to congregate, the LA Times said.
Announcing the start of construction, Ronald Vitiello, CBP’s acting deputy commissioner said in a statement: ‘We are committed to securing our border and that includes constructing border walls.
‘Our multi-pronged strategy to ensure the safety and security of the American people includes barriers, infrastructure, technology and people.
‘Moving forward with the prototypes enables us to continue to incorporate all the tools necessary to secure our border.’
The administration faces several federal lawsuits in San Diego that seek to block the prototypes and plans to replace existing barriers in California.