Politics

Trump’s Black Border Wall: How Heat Will Deter Climbers and Boost Security

August 21, 2025, 9:02 AM

A long line of migrants, including men, women, and children, stands along a tall, rusty border wall with barbed wire on top, waiting in the sun.

Migrants are seen waiting in a long line at the U.S.-Mexico border in El Paso, Texas, on December 21, 2022, as they seek asylum. By Shutterstock.com / Ruben2533.

Executive Summary

The Department of Homeland Security announced the southern border wall will be painted black, a suggestion from President Donald Trump, to make it too hot to climb and deter individuals.

The black paint is intended to intensify heat absorption, making the wall harder to climb, and will also serve to prevent rust on the steel structure.

This initiative is part of a broader border security strategy, funded by approximately $46.5 billion, aiming to complete 700 miles of primary wall and deploy additional technologies.

The Story So Far

The decision to paint the southern border wall black is a direct result of President Trump’s long-standing commitment to his central immigration platform, which prioritizes the construction of a robust border barrier system. This specific measure, suggested by Trump, is intended to enhance the wall’s deterrent effect by making it too hot to climb, leveraging the region’s high temperatures. The initiative unfolds as the Trump administration reports a decrease in apprehensions at the southern border, underscoring its ongoing focus on comprehensive border security.

Why This Matters

The decision to paint the southern border wall black, a measure directly suggested by President Trump, represents an intensified physical deterrent strategy aimed at making the structure too hot to climb, thereby increasing the difficulty of illegal crossings. This initiative is part of a broader, multi-faceted approach by the Trump administration to enhance border security, which includes extensive wall construction and the deployment of advanced technologies, all funded by a significant multi-billion dollar allocation for modernizing the border system.

Who Thinks What?

President Donald Trump and Secretary Kristi Noem believe painting the border wall black will intensify heat absorption, making it too hot and difficult to climb, thereby deterring individuals.

US Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks indicates that the black paint will also serve the practical purpose of preventing rust on the steel structure.

The wall along the southern border will be painted black, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced Tuesday, a measure intended to make the structure too hot to climb in an effort to deter individuals. Speaking from Santa Teresa, New Mexico, Noem stated that the suggestion came directly from President Donald Trump, who believes the black paint will intensify heat absorption.

Deterrent Measures

Secretary Noem described the border wall as being designed with multiple deterrents. She noted its significant height, which she said makes it “very, very difficult to climb, almost impossible.” Additionally, the wall extends deep into the ground, a feature intended to make digging underneath it extremely challenging.

The decision to paint the wall black is specifically aimed at leveraging high temperatures in the region. According to Noem, President Trump “understands that in the hot temperatures down here, when something is painted black, it gets even warmer, and it will make it even harder for people to climb.” US Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks also indicated that the black paint would serve the practical purpose of preventing rust on the steel structure.

Context of Border Operations

This initiative comes as the Trump administration reports a decrease in apprehensions at the southern border. The administration claimed just over 6,000 apprehensions in June, a 15% reduction from a previous record in March.

The southern border wall was a central pledge of Trump’s immigration platform during his first term. While border barrier construction continues, the administration’s focus has also expanded to include deportations and heightened interior enforcement within the United States.

Funding and Construction

Noem did not disclose the specific cost of painting the wall. However, she noted that the administration secured approximately $46.5 billion in funding through the Trump-backed “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which is allocated for modernizing the border barrier system, including the completion of 700 miles of primary wall.

Secretary Noem stated that the government is currently constructing approximately half a mile of border barrier each day. She also clarified that the appearance of the border wall will vary significantly based on the topography and geography of its construction location.

Beyond physical barriers, the Department of Homeland Security is also deploying “water-borne infrastructure” and advanced technologies such as cameras and sensors to enhance border security. During President Trump’s first term, his administration had previously considered painting more than 80 miles of the US-Mexico border wall black.