Source?
There are many out there so I will counter with another that is closer to reality IMHO:
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/trumps-border-wall-how-much-it-will-actually-cost-according-to-a-statistician
BLUF this guy estimates 25 billion in construction, I'm sure MX and patrol costs would come up to a billion or two a year. Worth it IMO again as it asserts sovereignty, security and could be instrumental in lowering the temperature in the cultural war in America.
Nationalist (like me) have many grievances against the status quo and the willful maleficence of the unholy alliance of globalists, leftists, ethno chauvinists, and the like. There are one set of laws, codes and policies for some people and apparently another for other groups, even ones who are not citizens of this country when they illegally enter or overstay their legally sanctioned visit. The rage is not against people of certain skin tones, ethnicities or non-maleficient reasons for entering, it is the hypocrisy of those who excuse the violation of our laws and sovereignty, careless disregard for our cultural tradition of rule of law and ambivalence to the deleterious effects unchecked illegal immigration has to our most vulnerable citizens.
By tolerating that which is wrong, you ironically destroy what is worth saving: a country whose culture is for the greater part is ruled by laws not by men or the whims of the mob, where the government attempts fair and equal treatment under the law and where the interests of its citizens come first but with consideration and reasonable generosity to foreigners whom we interact with. There is nothing inherently magical or different about the land north of the Rio Grande except the culture, customs and principles to which it attempts to live by. By disregarding them to do what feels good in the short term, you destroy the truly best part of it in the long term.
You and I have argued this issue before and I think you come to the debate in good faith, I see this not as just another phase in our history that will be looked back on nostalgically as the immigration surge of the early 20th century is but as that which leads to a decline and potentially painful end to our Union over time if not resolved in someway at least minimally acceptable to opposing sides.
Why would you want to remain in union under a federal government led by a hypocritical caste of decadent, greedy, corrupt elites that pervert a legal and economic system while lecturing you about your moral failings to not accept your displacement in the nation of YOUR birth?
I do not want to see violence, instability or even worse but civil wars are the result of accumulating grievances, let's stop this one from getting worse while being merciful and reasonable.
Secure the border, enforce immigration laws and return to the melting pot of assimilation. Understand the plight of others and walk a mile in their shoes as we implement laws and policy.
Both can be done but I feel that those who tolerate, excuse, minimize and thru willful ignorance are the aggressors, you go first and Nationalists will see that as a legitimate cease fire in the culture war, peace can be negotiated then. Otherwise we are on the road to somewhere we don't want to go.
Probably but not all of it needs a wall. Walls, sensors, vehicle barriers, patrol roads and air support as part of a comprehensive system. Walls are only necessary in highest traffic, highest population density areas with LOCs or adjoining urban areas.
Physical barriers in conjunction with other technology in adjoining urban areas (vehicle barriers, sensors, lighting, drones, etc...) patroled and enforced by CBP.
Rural areas would become military enforced sovereignty and law enforcement areas, National Guard permanently posted to patrol and secure. Legal, historically normal and necessary in today's world. Deterrence would be the first objective, arrest and detention next but if force is required, then it would be applied appropriately.
Barriers deter and funnel determined illegal crossers into rural areas either preventing their entry or hampering their efforts. If I were designing this system, every effort would be made and directed to assist those in distress in harsh terrain when located also. I don't want them to die or suffer but I don't won't them to illegally cross either, assert your sovereignty but try your best to be merciful and humane while doing it.
Interior enforcement and securing the northern border is just as important but first the SWB.