According to the Daily Mail, local resident Gabe Trevino conducted temperature tests that contradict claims made by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem about the paint's deterrent capabilities.
The 30-year-old healthcare worker used an infrared thermometer to measure both painted and unpainted sections of the wall near his home in Pharr, Texas. His findings showed the unpainted "brown wall" actually registered slightly higher temperatures than the black-painted sections, with readings of 103 and 102 degrees, respectively.
Trump Administration's Border Strategy Faces Scrutiny
President Donald Trump declared last week that painting the border wall black would make it "untouchable" due to heat absorption. The directive came as part of his broader $46.5 billion border security initiative aimed at completing and enhancing the southern border barrier.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem personally participated in the painting project, applying dark paint to steel bollards near El Paso. She claimed during a press conference that the black paint would make the wall significantly hotter in the desert climate.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has since scaled back the scope of the painting project. The agency now states that they will only paint newly constructed sections rather than the entire existing wall.
Local Testing Challenges Official Claims
Gabe Trevino, who works in healthcare and does comedy on the side, documented his temperature measurements on Instagram. His video showed virtually no difference between painted and unpainted sections during multiple tests.
The testing was conducted approximately ten minutes from Trevino's home on a 90-degree day. He used professional equipment to take accurate temperature readings of both wall sections.
CBP has not directly responded to questions about the paint's effectiveness as a deterrent. The agency provided only a brief statement about focusing the paint job on new construction.
Cost and Implementation Questions Remain
The Department of Homeland Security has not disclosed the total cost of the border wall painting initiative. Questions about the project's budget have gone unanswered by federal officials.
The painting directive revives an element of Trump's original border wall vision from his first term. A similar painting was attempted along sections in Calexico, but was abandoned to expedite wall construction.
Current plans call for allocating billions toward completing and enhancing the border barrier. However, the effectiveness of specific measures like black paint remains a point of debate.
Border Security Measures Under Review
Trevino characterized the painting project as wasteful spending in comments to media outlets. He questioned the necessity of the initiative given claims about reduced border crossings.
CBP officials have not provided data supporting the deterrent effect of the black paint. The agency continues to modify its approach, focusing painting efforts on new construction only.
The findings from local testing raise questions about the practical impact of aesthetic changes to the border wall. The temperature differential appears minimal based on available evidence.
