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AFP
WASHINGTON
US President Donald Trump will take a first step toward fulfilling his pledge to"build a wall"on the Mexican border Wednesday, as he rolls out a series of immigration-related decrees.
The White House said Trump will make the announcements during a visit to the Department of Homeland Security in the afternoon.
"Big day planned on NATIONAL SECURITY tomorrow. Among many other things, we will build the wall!"Trump tweeted late Tuesday.
Trump is also expected to sign measures targeting US"sanctuary"cities, where local officials refuse to help round up people for deportation.
And according to CNN, he plans to expand the number of customs and border agents.
Stemming immigration was a central plank of Trump's election campaign. His signature policy prescription was to build a wall across the 2,000-mile (3,200-kilometer) border between the United States and Mexico.
Some of the border is already fenced, but Trump says a wall is needed to stop illegal immigrants entering from Latin America.
In 2014, there were an estimated 5.8 million unauthorized Mexican migrants in the United States, according to Pew, with fewer arriving each year.
Experts have voiced doubts about whether a wall would actually stem illegal immigration, or if it is worth the billions it would be expected to cost.
But the policy has become a clarion call for the US right and far-right -- the core of Trump's support.
Still, any action from the White House would be piecemeal, diverting only existing funds toward the project.--
