Fact Check: Did Trump build portion of Arizona's border wall with Mexico that Harris visited?

DOUGLAS, ARIZONA: Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris visited the US-Mexico border at Douglas on Friday, September 27, to announce measures meant to mitigate the ongoing border crisis, less than 40 days before the election day.

However, a claim has surfaced online suggesting that her rival, former President Donald Trump, had constructed the fence at the border crossing. Is there any truth to this? Let’s explore the details below.

Claim: Donald Trump built the portion of Arizona border wall with Mexico

Trump War Room, the X account for Donald Trump's campaign, claimed in a post that Donald Trump had built the fence, as photos of Vice President Kamala Harris visiting the border and speaking to border patrol officers went viral.

The account shared a photo of Kamala Harris at the border, along with an old video of her criticizing Trump's border project as a "medieval vanity." The caption read, "Kamala (2019): President Trump's border wall is a 'medieval vanity project.' Kamala (2024): Looks up in awe at that very medieval vanity project."

False: Portion of Arizona's border wall with Mexico was built during Barack Obama's administration

The claim made by Trump War Room that Donald Trump built the portion of Arizona's border wall with Mexico that Kamala Harris visited is false. That section of the wall was actually constructed during the Barack Obama administration in 2010.

During her visit, Kamala Harris commented on the Border Patrol while inspecting a fence at the border, saying, "They’ve got a tough job, and they rightly need support to do their job. They are very dedicated. I’m here to talk with them about what we can continue to do to support them and also to thank them for the hard work they do."

Proof: Several media outlets claim it was built during the Obama administration

Many media outlets, including Reuters, have reported that the portion of Arizona's border wall with Mexico that Kamala Harris visited was constructed during the Obama administration in the early 2010s.

Therefore, the claims made by Trump War Room that Donald Trump built the portion of Arizona's border wall with Mexico that Kamala Harris visited do not make sense.

Kamala Harris claims illegal border crossers will face 'severe criminal charges'

During her visit to the border, Kamala Harris said that those who cross borders unlawfully will face "severe criminal charges" and will be barred from reentering for five years, per New York Post.

She said, "I will do more to secure our border, to reduce illegal border crossings. I will take further action to keep the border closed between ports of entry."

She added, "Those who cross our borders unlawfully will be apprehended and removed and barred from reentering for five years. We will pursue more severe criminal charges against repeat violators, and if someone does not make an asylum request at a legal point of entry, and instead crosses our border unlawfully, they will be barred from receiving asylum."