Construction has started on a new section of border wall in Sunland Park. This isn't a government project. This stretch of wall is privately funded, and it's being built on private land. Now, city officials are halting construction.
A private group called We Build the Wall raised more than $20 million for border wall construction through a GoFundMe campaign. The group was founded by an Air Force veteran; former White House official Steve Bannon chairs the advisory board.
The group is funding a half mile-long line of steel columns in Sunland Park. Leaders say it costs about $6 million construction is almost complete.
Javier Perea is mayor of Sunland Park. He says the city received a permit application late Friday.
"And that actually is still under review by the city staff," he says. "So at this point there is no authorization given for the construction of the fence or the wall...As we stand today, they are in violation of city ordinance."
The mayor says the city has issued a cease-and-desist order to stop construction.
