Trump will ask 8.6 billion euros to pay the border wall with Mexico

The demand is six times higher than Congress has given to border projects in each of the past two years and is 6% higher than what Trump has set aside with emergency powers this year.

Democrats, who oppose the wall because they find it useless and immoral, control the US House of Representatives. It is therefore unlikely that the request of the Republican President will be approved by Congress.

Whether Congress approves of it or not, this announcement could help Trump enhance its border security credentials as the 2020 presidential race begins when Trump seeks re-election.

"This allows the president to say that he has fulfilled his commitment to operationally control the southwestern border," said a government official, who requested the anonymity of the budget request.

"We provided the action plan, the strategy and we asked to finish the work.The question is whether Congress allows us to complete the task," said a second official.

The request is based on a 2017 plan submitted by Customs and Border Protection officials for the construction or replacement of 1,162 kilometers of border gates, which would amount to about $ 18 billion.