Homeland Security to Paint Southern Border Wall Black

September 10, 2025

By Tobi Akinnubi

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has announced that the entire U.S.–Mexico southern border wall will be painted black, in line with a directive from President Donald Trump.

Noem said the measure is intended to make the wall absorb more heat under the sun, thereby making it more difficult for migrants to climb. “That is specifically at the request of the president,” she stated while inspecting sections of the barrier in New Mexico.

U.S. Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks explained that the black coating would also help protect the steel structure from rust, thereby extending its lifespan.

The painting project forms part of the administration’s broader border security initiative, backed by about $46 billion under what Trump has described as the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” According to Noem, construction is ongoing at the rate of half a mile per day, with additional investments being made in water-based barriers and surveillance infrastructure along river areas of the border.

This is not the first time black paint has been tested on the border wall. Similar coatings were applied to portions of the barrier in 2019, though later reports indicated that some of the paint peeled within 18 months.

VIDEO Credit | ABC News Live