US Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Tuesday allowed the use of $ 3.6 billion to build new barriers on the border with Mexico, CNN reported. 

In his letter, Esper told Congress he has "determined that 11 military construction projects along the international border with Mexico, with an estimated total cost of $3.6 billion, are necessary to support the use of the armed forces in connection with the national emergency.”

These projects are implemented primarily to prevent the smuggling of migrants into the US. Thanks to their implementation, the number of personnel of the Defense Department necessary to protect the border in those places where new barriers will be built will also be reduced.

According to Politico, half of the funding will be redirected from military construction projects in the United States, the rest will come from funds earmarked for similar projects abroad. In total, this will affect 127 projects, TASS reported.

US President Donald Trump signed a declaration on February 15 to introduce a state of emergency on the country's southern border. This will allow the US administration, in particular, to accumulate about $ 8 billion for the construction or repair of fences on several sections of the border with Mexico. The US government believes that this will help stop illegal immigration and drug smuggling. Earlier, trump sought inclusion in the state budget of more than $ 5.7 billion for the construction of a barrier on the border with Mexico. Due to disputes with the Democrats in this regard, Congress had a budget crisis on December 22, 2018, accompanied by a suspension of the work of the federal government, which lasted a record 35 days.