Paint it black: Trump’s new security measure for the Mexico-US border wall

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was successful New Mexico connected Wednesday to assistance publicize U.S. President Donald Trump’s caller information measurement — coating the Mexico-U.S. borderline partition black.

Armed with a overgarment roller and a tin of achromatic paint, Noem said the strategy was specifically requested by Trump due to the fact that helium believes achromatic overgarment volition marque the partition excessively blistery to climb.

🚨 BREAKING: President Trump is present coating the ENTIRE Southern Border Wall with Mexico BLACK

So it’s hard to climb. The achromatic overgarment volition rapidly vigor up with the prima – radical volition wounded their hands if they try. BRILLIANT

“Specifically astatine the petition of the president.”

I LOVE… pic.twitter.com/i2rQsJVBaV

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) August 19, 2025

“We are going to beryllium coating the full confederate borderline partition achromatic to marque definite that we promote individuals to not travel into our state illegally,” Noem said aft coating a tiny conception of the wall.

“When you interaction thing that is blistery during these kinds of temperatures, it is precise hard to ascent it, to interaction it, to grip it,” she said.

Supporters of the president lauded the program connected societal media.

Florida media property Eric Daugherty said helium loved the idea: “The achromatic overgarment volition rapidly vigor up with the prima — radical volition wounded their hands if they try. BRILLIANT”

“This isn’t conscionable a partition anymore — it’s a passive information system, utilizing the laws of physics arsenic defense,” wrote another.

Others were not truthful sure.

Pedro Ríos of The American Friends Service Committee — a Quaker-founded enactment moving for bid and societal justness — said helium didn’t deliberation the achromatic overgarment would service arsenic a deterrent.

“We don’t cognize however galore radical are climbing the borderline wall, but we bash usually spot … ladders thrown about,” helium told Fox 5 San Diego. “The smuggling networks are ever getting astute ideas astir however to transverse the U.S.-Mexico border, including possibly utilizing gloves to forestall them burning their hands.”

Ríos suggested a much humanitarian attack that avoids conditions wherever radical could beryllium harmed. He pointed retired that border-crossers are simply seeking refuge “after leaving hard situations successful their location countries.”

“How bash we make mechanisms [to ensure] that people’s humanitarian and quality rights are respected and not origin conditions that volition make greater harm and suffering for people,” Ríos said.

The program to usage achromatic overgarment arsenic a deterrent is not new. Trump floated the thought during his archetypal word (2017-2021), but it was scuttled successful 2020 aft U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the task would outgo an other US $1 cardinal per mile.

Defending the plan, U.S. Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks, who attended Wednesday’s lawsuit with Noem, said the achromatic overgarment would assistance deter rust, extending the beingness expectancy of the wall.

Noem said the authorities is besides considering further “waterborne infrastructure” on the Rio Grande, which makes up much than fractional of the borderline betwixt the 2 countries.

With reports from The Associated Press, BBC and Fox 5 San Diego