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US Border Wall Prototypes Reportedly Fail Tests, Photo Shows They Can Be Sawed

The test results come amid a partial government shutdown caused by disputes over the funding of the proposed US-Mexico border wall, as US President Donald Trump is requesting $5.7 billion for its construction.
Sputnik

The testing of a steel prototype for Trump's long-promised wall on the nation's southern border demonstrated that it is possible to saw through the barrier, NBC News reported Thursday, displaying an exclusive photo of the test's outcomes. 

READ MORE: Trump, Dem Leaders Point Fingers After Border Wall Meeting Ends in Chaos

The tests were conducted after US Marine Corps were instructed to attempt to destroy the barrier using everyday equipment civilians have easy access to. 

This came after Trump's office directed the development of eight prototype walls, made out of steel and concrete in California, not far from the Mexican border town of Tijuana. 

A Customs and Border Protection spokesperson told the KPBS radio station that the eight prototypes are not and cannot be designed to be indestructible, but they allegedly can impede illegal entry in the United States by giving border authorities enough time to respond.

On Tuesday night, Donald Trump addressed the US public on the issue of building a border wall and the government shutdown, and said a steel wall design is what the authorities defending the border need and want.

US Republican Senators Reintroduce Bill to Fully Fund Border Wall
Currently, US President Donald Trump is requesting $5.7 billion for the construction of a wall on the US border with Mexico. Democrats, who control the US House of Representatives, have vowed to block any bill that includes the amount of money Trump is requesting to construct the border wall; a partial government shutdown has been ongoing since 22 December due to disputes over the funding of the proposed border wall.

Starting last week, the US president has repeatedly threatened to declare a national emergency in order to bypass Congress and divert military funding for the purposes of building the wall.

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