Trump enforces US-Mexico border

In preparation for the wall which Trump wishes to build to reduce illegal immigration from Mexico into the USA, he has enforced the existing borders by sending troops to the border in the state of Texas.

250 guards are being deployed to the border with a potential 4000 national guards being deployed over the coming months.  This is not a new move however, as previous presidents have deployed staff to secure the border and attempt to reduce the numbers fleeing into the USA.

The planned "wall" is not an easy solution however, despite the fact that Trump regularly tweets about its benefits to US security.  The cost is likely to be around $25billion and government funding is unlikely to be able to stretch to that amount.  Many politicians have expressed concern that if federal money was directed into this project, then other areas of funding such as education, housing and healthcare would be affected.  Another issue is that the construction of such a wall to make a permanent divide between Mexico and the USA could have long term impacts on trade.

Check out the BBC News report here for more detail.

Geography In the News blog by Jo Parkinson