The controversial border wall is at the center of a $15-billion border security plan, unveiled this week by Senator Cornyn, and despite campaign promises, it will be paid for by American taxpayers, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
"The president I know has talked about Mexico paying for the wall. This does not include anything like that," he told 1200 WOAI news.
Cornyn (R-TX) says he's not waiting around for the president to figure out his border wall plan. This package includes multi-layered fencing, which means a combination of walls, fencing, levees and technology. It directs DHS to work directly with local leaders in South Texas determine what works best in their area.
"When J.D. Salinas of Hidalgo County was county judge, we worked with him and designed a duel-purpose levee wall that allowed the border patrol to get the tactical infrastructure they need but also allowed flood control."
Salinas, who now heads the Texas Border Coalition, has been critical of the current border wall plan, which is expected to include walls in the area around the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, which would fall behind the fencing.
"I hope they reconsider that, because we lose a lot," he told 1200 WOAI news.He's long pushed for alternatives to fencing, including beefing up the ports of entry, which is where most of the drugs flow into Texas. Sen. Cornyn's bill includes infrastructure improvement to facilitate legal trade between the two nations.
"Frankly, the better Mexico’s economy is doing, the less need there is for people, for economic reasons, to migrate illegally to the United States," Sen. Cornyn explains.
Of course, the Border Security Bill still needs approval, which is far from a given in today's political climate.