Texas Slaps Last Panel Onto $3 Billion Border Wall

Texas has finished installing the final panel of its state-built border wall, completing an 82.2-mile-long permanent barrier along the Rio Grande. The project, which began in late 2021 under Gov. Greg Abbott's Operation Lone Star, has cost around $3 billion. The wall is part of a larger border security effort that includes counter-drone systems and other technologies. State leaders say migrant encounters have decreased, with troopers logging 80-100 arrests per week for crossings between ports of entry. The project has faced criticism from environmental groups and others who question its effectiveness and cost. With the heavy construction phase complete, the focus is shifting to other border security measures, including emerging counter-drone systems.