Payam Javan: President Donald Trump has ordered the entire southern border wall to be painted black, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed during a press conference in New Mexico. Noem explained that Trump’s directive is aimed at making the steel barrier hotter under the sun, making it more difficult to climb. She also noted that the paint would help protect the wall from rust, strengthening its durability. Border Patrol Chief Michael W. Banks shared footage of agents applying the black paint on a new section of the wall in El Paso.

In addition to the black coating, Noem announced that the wall will be equipped with new technology, including cameras and sensors, as part of a broader security upgrade. She stressed that these measures are intended to discourage illegal crossings and ensure that migrants enter the United States legally. “A nation without borders is no nation at all,” Noem said, crediting Trump’s leadership for prioritizing border security as central to the country’s future.

According to DHS data, illegal crossings along the southern border dropped to historic lows in July 2025, with apprehensions for the entire month falling below the previous administration’s daily averages. Noem highlighted that this marks the third consecutive month with zero U.S. Border Patrol releases into the interior. The administration’s $165 billion homeland security funding package, dubbed the “Big Beautiful Bill,” includes $46.5 billion for wall completion, billions for surveillance technology, and thousands of new CBP personnel, further reinforcing Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement agenda—despite strong opposition from Democrats.