Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, that President Donald Trump has ordered the entire U.S.–Mexico border wall to be painted black. Noem said the darker coating will absorb more heat, making the steel "even harder for people to climb," and will also help protect the metal from rust. The instruction, she added, came "specifically at the request of the president." The repainting is being carried out alongside continued wall construction, which officials say is advancing at about half a mile per day. Funding comes from the border-security package Congress approved in July, which the administration calls the "One Big Beautiful Bill." Noem said DHS is also adding cameras, sensors and water-borne barriers and has begun planning similar upgrades on the northern frontier. According to Border Patrol data cited by the secretary, average apprehensions in the El Paso sector have dropped to 41 a day, down from roughly 2,300 in 2023, with daily “gotaways” averaging nine. The move has drawn both praise from supporters who see it as a practical deterrent and criticism from opponents who doubt the paint job will significantly curb migration.