Trump Sparks Outrage with $175 Billion Border Budget Request — Locals Say 'We're Being Ignored!

Former President Donald Trump is once again at the center of a political firestorm after requesting an additional $175 billion in federal funding for border security infrastructure and military operations along the U.S.-Mexico border — a move that has outraged communities across Texas and Arizona. In a press conference held Tuesday, Trump emphasized that the funds would be used to "finish what we started," referencing the expansion of the border wall system, surveillance tech, and increased National Guard presence across key entry corridors including El Paso, Del Rio, and Douglas. “We’re going to shut it down — completely shut it down,” Trump declared. “Every crossing. Every tunnel. Every loophole.” However, many residents living in these regions feel completely abandoned — not because of migrants, but because of crumbling infrastructure, underfunded hospitals, failing schools, and rising crime that they claim the federal government continues to ignore. “We don’t need more drones. We need drinkable water,” said Ana Martinez, a resident of Del Rio. “It’s like we’re invisible unless there’s a photo-op.” Where the Money Is Going (According to the Proposal): $75 billion for new fencing and surveillance towers $30 billion for military base expansions and forward command posts $20 billion for detention center upgrades $50 billion for "classified operations" under the Department of Homeland Security Critics, including civil rights groups and border mayors, are calling the proposal a “gross misallocation of national funds.” The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has already issued a statement warning that the plan could lead to increased civil liberties violations and constitutional challenges. “We are throwing money at walls while people in these same counties can’t afford insulin,” said one policy analyst from the Brookings Institution. Meanwhile, some conservative lawmakers are defending the proposal, stating it will bring economic development to border towns and reduce cartel trafficking routes. But in places like Douglas and Del Rio, community fatigue is setting in, with residents frustrated by the cycle of militarization, media attention, and broken promises. Whether the proposal gains traction in Congress remains to be seen, but one thing is certain — the communities on the front lines are growing tired of being political pawns. Stay tuned to El Paso Bulletin for exclusive interviews, funding breakdowns, and local voices on this controversial proposal.