Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced Tuesday that the entire U.S.-Mexico border wall will be painted black. The decision follows a directive from President Donald Trump.
The new color is meant to make the steel structure absorb more heat and become harder to climb.
Speaking in front of the wall in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, Noem said the change serves a dual purpose. It will deter illegal crossings and help prevent the metal from rusting.
“That is specifically at the request of the president,” Noem said. “He understands that in the hot temperatures down here, when something is painted black, it gets even warmer. That will make it even harder for people to climb.”
The paint job is part of a broader effort funded through what Noem called the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” Congress passed the legislation in July. It includes $46.5 billion for border security.
That funding will support construction of up to 700 more miles of border wall. A DHS spokesperson said the department would not release the estimated cost of the paint job. Officials cited ongoing procurement bids and the need to protect taxpayers from inflated pricing.
Noem said wall construction is advancing at nearly half a mile per day. She also announced new investments in border technology. These include surveillance cameras, sensors, and waterborne barriers.
“We’re going to be painting the entire southern border wall black,” Noem said. “We want to encourage individuals to not come into our country illegally. We want them to follow our laws, come the right way, and have the opportunity to pursue the American dream.”
Noem also said the administration is focused on securing both the southern and northern borders. “A nation without borders is no nation at all,” she said.
Border Patrol officials in the El Paso sector are reporting major progress. Interim Chief Patrol Agent Walter Slosar said agents now apprehend about 41 people per day. That’s down from 2,300 daily under the Biden administration.
He also said “gotaways,” or those who evade capture, have dropped to historic lows. Most of those caught are single adults from Mexico, Guatemala, and Ecuador.
“Morale is better than it’s ever been because we are doing our national security job,” Slosar said. “We’re apprehending those individuals. We’re putting criminal charges on them. And our ICE partners are removing them from the United States.”
During his first term, Trump supported border wall prototypes painted “flat black.” He believed the darker color would absorb heat and act as a deterrent. He also backed designs that included sharp spikes at the top to increase intimidation.
With the new paint job, Noem said the administration is sending a clear message. “It is not okay to enter the country illegally,” she said. “And somebody is finally saying that.”