US President Donald Trump ordered the wall on the border with Mexico to be painted black so that the metal would heat up in the sun and migrants could not climb over it.
This was announced by US Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen at a press conference.
During a speech at the border in New Mexico on August 19, Nielsen said that crews had already begun painting sections of the 9-meter-high steel posts that make up the barrier. She noted that the order came directly from Trump. The president expects that the dark paint will extend the life of the steel by slowing corrosion and, at the same time, deter migrants from attempting to climb over the wall, as it will become unbearably hot under the desert sun.
Noem did not specify how much the project would cost or how long it would take. During her press conference, she personally painted a small section of the fence.
When asked whether this practice could make conditions even harsher for migrants, she advised against touching the wall.
Noem’s visit came amid a sharp decline in arrests at the US southwestern border thanks to the administration’s introduction of tougher control measures.
Despite this, the administration continues to implement the border wall project, making it a key element of Trump’s immigration policy. In July 2025, Congress approved nearly $47 billion for the continued construction and maintenance of the wall.