President Donald Trump visited the U.S.-Mexico border in San Diego on Tuesday to inspect competing prototypes for the proposed wall between the two countries — and among the eight wall sections was one created by Fisher Sand & Gravel Co., headquartered in North Dakota.
“To have that opportunity to demonstrate to the president and all the people of America what we’re capable of building, it was just a great honor,” said Tommy Fisher, president and CEO of Fisher Industries — which includes both Fisher Sand & Gravel Co. and General Steel & Supply Co. — to host Laura Ingraham Tuesday night on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle.”
“What makes your wall impenetrable for the people who really want to climb it?” asked Ingraham, referring to a statement by the president indicating he would be choosing prototypes that were least easily scaled.
“First of all, Laura, our wall is solid concrete … We took vision very, very serious when we put our proposal together,” said Fisher. “Agents have a 360-degree, panoramic, top-view down, so they have the advantage.”
He added, “The big difference with ours is, we’re building access roads for the agents. You’re not even getting close to our wall. Our wall has a road in front and a road behind.”
Fisher’s proposal is a 30-foot-high, cast-in-place wall composed of 6,000 psi, colored concrete, with structural grade 60 reinforcement steel inside. There are patrol roads on both sides of the concrete wall.
The American side can be backfilled to 29 feet, creating an elevated roadway, giving agents an obvious tactical advantage. That elevated roadway overlooks a second roadway on the opposite side of the wall. Beyond that lower road, nearest the Mexican border, is a “see through”-type barrier.
“We can build through the mountains as well,” Fisher said, noting that since his system requires no cranes, he can also build on rugged terrain.
Fisher predicts that if his company were to be awarded the large, 700-mile project, he would create thousands of jobs.
The CEO said he’d purchased land in California in rugged, mountainous terrain. He’s also placed a $274 million bid to build the first 15 miles of border wall, and intends to prove to the president and to America that “if you don’t have a complete border protection system, you do not have security.”
Fisher predicts that if his company were to be awarded the large, 700-mile project, he would create thousands of jobs. Fisher Sand & Gravel Co., the parent company, is ranked as one of the top 25 sand and gravel producing companies in the United States, according to its biography and background statements. Tommy Fisher is the son of the original founder, Gene Fisher. The company has more than 800 employees, with offices in Dickinson, North Dakota; Tempe, Arizona; and six other locations in the western U.S.
“The larger [the wall] is, the better it is, because it’s very hard to get over the top. It’s really a deterrent from getting over the top,” said President Trump when reviewing wall prototypes on Tuesday. “These are like professional mountain climbers. They’re incredible climbers,” added the president, referencing those who attempt to cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally.
If Fisher’s version of the wall is chosen, not only would potential border crossers need to scale a 30-foot wall, but they’d also have to get around two roadways of agents with a superior tactical advantage who could see their target coming as clear as day.
Our wall will provide protection for all Americans, but our proposal is more than just a wall – it’s infrastructure for border agents. pic.twitter.com/p7gsiRAnSN
— Fisher Sand and Gravel Co. (@FisherSandG) January 19, 2018
If we don’t have a wall system, we’re not going to have a country. Congress must fund the BORDER WALL & prohibit grants to sanctuary jurisdictions that threaten the security of our country & the people of our country. We must enforce our laws & protect our people! #BuildTheWall pic.twitter.com/NGqNueukvj
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 13, 2018
“According to the Center for Immigration Studies, the $18 billion wall will pay for itself by curbing the importation of crime, drugs and illegal immigrants who tend to go on the federal dole…” https://t.co/NdLC6jZwWE
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 13, 2018
I live in California and most of us DON'T want a wall on OUR border. So just stay up in North Dakota and mind your own damn business. You'll never get paid anyway.
— Proud Left Coaster (@proudcali) February 7, 2018
Nice that looks to be the way to go !! Highway to oversee and able to cruise the border and have a wall and you know that wall isn’t going anywhere
— Raymond (@raymond5174) February 3, 2018
42 years in the construction industry, tells me, less than 15 million dollars a mile is quite a bargain… So quit calling it The Wall… Call it interstate 200! And let's get it built!
— Dan losee (@Loveusalway) February 4, 2018
Michele Blood is a Flemington, New Jersey-based freelance writer and a regular contributor to LifeZette.
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