The Trump administration has asked Congress for nearly $18 billion to build more than 700 miles of border wall along the U.S.–Mexico border. Alejandro Dávila, press secretary at Earthjustice, explains how the construction of a border wall imposes environmental costs and natural disaster, threatens border communities, harms native wildlife and wastes taxpayer dollars.

Construction of a wall is likely to create roadblocks in the migration paths of several threatened and endangered species and will also hinder the natural flow of waterways. In August 2017, the Department of Homeland Security issued a waiver that exempts construction efforts near San Diego from environmental and other regulations. Read an interview with environmental lawyer Dinah Bear on the impact of the decision on the environment and coming legal challenges to the wall.