US-Mexico Border Wall Scheduled for Completion by Late 2027, Complemented by Surveillance Tech to Block Illegal Crossings

(CNA, Washington, 9th, Comprehensive Foreign Report) The Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Rodney Scott, stated today that the United States expects to complete the southern border wall, a long-standing promise of President Trump, by the end of 2027, with complementary facilities such as an electronic surveillance system to be finished the following year.

According to Agence France-Presse, Scott said at an event hosted by the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington that the barrier, composed of reinforced metal beams, is expected to stretch from San Diego, California, all the way to the Gulf of Mexico, but some areas assessed as not needing a wall will be excluded. "The main border wall will be completed by the end of 2027," he said.

He noted that there are still a few gaps to be filled, and the areas without a wall were carefully decided upon, such as the remote and rugged terrain of Big Bend National Park.

Scott stated that after the wall is completed, an electronic surveillance system and other equipment will be added, expected to be finished by July, or at the latest, August of 2028.

A dedicated physical barrier will also be installed along the approximately 1900-kilometer stretch of the Rio Grande border between the U.S. and Mexico. "We will construct a complete border protection system, including adding a second barrier in necessary areas, a water defense line on the Rio Grande, and surveillance technology," he said.

The purpose of this border wall is to curb illegal immigration and drug smuggling from Mexico. According to official metrics, related activities have decreased in recent years.

However, Scott admitted that a physical wall alone cannot completely stop illegal activities, as smuggling groups have used tunnels, drones, and other methods to evade detection and transport drugs.

"We occasionally see drones flying along the Rio Grande, monitoring and filming the locations of Border Patrol agents. This is their mode of operation, and drones make it easier," he said.

Scott also added that criminal groups use drones to smuggle drugs across the border.