If Biden halts border wall, it could cost taxpayers billions, CBP chief warns.

Joe Biden is promising that border wall building won't continue under his administration, but with hundreds of miles under construction, the head of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is warning that shutting down construction could cost taxpayers billions.

The Trump administration this week marked 450 miles of wall built at the southern border, and acting CBP Commissioner Mark Morgan told reporters earlier this week that a total of 800 miles is funded.

"So in addition to the 450 that we’ve already got on the ground, we’ve got funded 350 miles of wall system to go in the ground," he said. "The overwhelming amount of those miles, that funding, the contracts have already been awarded."

However, the wall faces a grim future under Biden, who has promised that not "another foot" would be built. It seems unlikely, therefore, that he will allow a new 350 miles - nearly equal the amount of wall built under his predecessor.

But Morgan warned that canceling projects at this point would cost the U.S. taxpayer.

"It’ll cost taxpayers billions of dollars, billions of dollars in settlement fees," he said. "We’re going to walk away from areas of the wall that have already been constructed."

"There are going to be some areas where, let's say we’ve already started to dig a trench and put some rebar in there, we’re actually going to have to stop and pay extra to have them remove the rebar and fill in the trench," he said.

He added that there is another 270,000 tons of steel bollards that have either been produced or are being produced.

"We’re either going to have to pay them additional money on top of the money we’ve paid for the materials to either destroy what we paid them for already or to store it," he said.

He also warned that it would cost thousands of jobs for workers if the brakes were put on the project.

(Read More.)

Join LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, LASD South LA Captain Allen for a virtual town hall on Tuesday, January 19, 2021 from 2-4pm to discuss concerns that South LA residents and business owners may have. Register at https://bit.ly/3qZf7M1. More details in the flyer. Hope to see you there!

Meanwhile, in San Diego, CA -- More from the BLM/Antifa and Trump supporters altercation. Imagine having a sunny day in San Diego and this is how you choose to spend it. ☺️

ITALY, VATICAN — In addition to the entire nation of Pakistan, the Vatican is reportedly also experiencing a blackout. Hello, 2021 😉

Meanwhile, in Canada -- The province of Quebec is now under police rule. Curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Police cars are driving through neighborhoods, sirens blaring, scanning for dissidents to arrest. Violators $6,000 fines.

When your conspiracy theory is too much for even Alex Jones ... 😭😭

"Anybody who is listening to me right now who is in the United States government and security for this inauguration, hear what I have to say. There needs to be a national security exclusion zone... nothing human moves inside that sector except the President." #facepalm

After spending 76 days in jail, a white man who intentionally drove his vehicle through a crowd of BLM protesters in Iowa City last summer will have his record cleared and avoid prison if he stays out of trouble during three years of probation. Michael Ray Stepanek, 45, of Iowa City, drove his 1998 Toyota Camry through a group of protesters in late August, injuring at least one person, according to police. Stepanek told police the protesters needed "an attitude adjustment." He was charged days later with one count of assault while displaying a dangerous weapon, an aggravated misdemeanor, and one count of willful injury causing bodily harm, a class D felony. But last month, a district court judge dismissed the first charge and deferred the second. Judge Paul Miller also suspended a $1,025 civil fine, according to court filings. (Read More.)

Somewhere in Brazil ...

San Diego Police Department: Pacific Beach Update (FINAL): All the groups have left the area. We will always facilitate peaceful protests. However, we will not tolerate acts of violence.

BREAKING -- Evanston shooting at Western and Howard. Police Chief says man w/ gun took woman hostage at CVS storeand shot her at an IHOP across the street. Officers then shot suspect.

Canada, Montreal -- Anti-curfew protestors are marching around the Plateau with a huge convoy of police in tow.

Trump has been digitally removed from Home Alone cameo role!

Police out in Quebec streets enforcing curfew. @CanadaFirstOfficial.