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DHS Secy.: Main Border Wall Will Be Finished Next Year. Aired 4:30-5a ET

Aired June 25, 2026 - 04:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[04:30:00]

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ELEX MICHAELSON, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Soon after the fire, Jonathan returned to that home.

JONATHAN SCOTT, HOST, HGTV'S "PROPERTY BROTHERS": Just know that there is hope.

MICHAELSON (voice-over): To film a public service announcement for the city of Los Angeles. Around that same time, he first heard about a technology called RSG 3-D.

SCOTT: This wasn't a technology that was on my radar. I had seen it in, you know, industrial applications, but I didn't know it was available for residential.

MICHAELSON (voice-over): Jonathan is now trying out that technology for the first time ever while rebuilding his in law's home.

MICHAELSON: How does it work?

SCOTT: RSG is simply just no wood. You're building a structure that's reinforced steel with a polystyrene core and it's concrete on the surface, both the inside and the outside. The entire structure, roof, walls, floors, everything is tied together so it's hyper efficient, incredibly strong and fireproof from both the inside and the outside.

MICHAELSON (voice-over): Here are some examples of completed homes built with RSG 3-D technology. Deschanel home should look almost identical to the way it did before the fire when construction is expected to wrap up by the end of the year.

SCOTT: It looks rough. I find it sexy. I think this looks really sexy.

MICHAELSON: It is sexy.

SCOTT: So this is how it comes from the factory.

MICHAELSON (voice-over): Scott says it takes about a third of the time to build like this versus traditional wood. SCOTT: So it's way faster and the cost is about 10 percent more than the traditional. But I would never have to deal with anything again. If anyone's ever had a flood or termites or rotten --

MICHAELSON: Yes.

SCOTT: -- it doesn't affect this because there's nothing organic in here.

MICHAELSON: Now, while the Deschanel house is being built over here with the new technology, just across the street, multiple homes are being built with old school wood.

When you see that, that wood literally across the street from you, what goes through your mind?

SCOTT: I'm like, am I crazy? Either we're ignorant or we're stupid.

MICHAELSON (voice-over): On the same day as our visit, Jonathan shows off the technology to LA Mayor Karen Bass. He's also talking with insurance companies.

SCOTT: Tell us if you build this way, we will make this neighborhood more insurable.

MICHAELSON (voice-over): Jonathan doesn't have any financial stake in this technology. He simply wants to use his sizable platform to increase awareness.

SCOTT: It used traditionally, if you wanted a fully hardened home, it was going to be like twice the price. That's not the case anymore. It's just a matter of people don't know about it.

MICHAELSON: Right. And now they do. Thanks to this place.

MICHAELSON (voice-over): Elex Michaelson, CNN, Pacific Palisades, California.

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POLO SANDOVAL, CNN ANCHOR: And do stay with us. In a moment, we'll have more on that developing situation in Venezuela, the country rocked by Two powerful, deadly earthquakes. Stay with us. You're watching CNN.

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[04:35:55]

SANDOVAL: More on our top story at this hour. Two earthquakes in Venezuela where at least 32 people have been confirmed dead and hundreds more injured. And officials do say that hardest hit areas still have not reported their casualty figures. The quakes, they hit on Wednesday evening, less than a minute apart. In fact, some witnesses have told CNN that Wednesday was a national holiday.

So many families were at home, some watching World Cup matches.

Now the second quake, a 7.5 magnitude that was actually the largest Venezuela since 1900. An official in Caracas says that rescuers right now are trying to listen for people still alive trapped beneath the buildings and the rubble. Crews are frantically working to get those people free. Here's how one woman described escaping from her home amid the chaos.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translation): I was here when I managed to get dressed. He helped me, and all the walls were cracked. We managed to open the door however we could. There was a cloud of smoke that wouldn't let us see. And when we went downstairs, the scene was like a horror movie.

We had to climb over the rubble and everything. The building superintendent with the baby and older neighbors coming down. But from that building, I only saw that one family got out.

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SANDOVAL: Now to some new reporting that's raising some questions about a recent claim by homeland security secretary Markwayne Mullin that the president's main wall along the U.S.-Mexico border will be completed just a year from now. Axios reporting that only 10 percent of the planned primary wall is finished with nearly 700 miles left to go and not all of the land needed has been secured. According to Axios, to complete the wall on Mullin's timeline, construction would actually have to quicken to more than 13 miles a week so far this year. Well, that number has been six miles a week. Here's what Mullen told lawmakers earlier this month.

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MARWAYNE MULLIN, U.S. HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: On the border wall, first of all, we are on track to have the primary wall done completed from the Pacific to Gulf of America this time next year. We have -- we'll have all contracts out by the end of this month. And we're having great progress. Now the primary wall is not the secondary wall, the primary walls the first wall up. So we're well within track.

The secondary wall we feel like if we can continue to have the progress we have and the partnerships we're having, we will probably complete that the summer of '28, and so all of it will be fully completed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANDOVAL: Joining me now is Blas Nunez-Neto. He's a senior policy fellow at the Searchlight Institute. He's also a former official with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Border and Immigration Policy Department. He previously served under the Biden administration.

Blas, thank you so much for making time for us. BLAS NUNEZ-NETO, SR. POLICY FELLOW, SEARCHLIGHT INSTITUTE: Polo, thank you so much for inviting me to be here tonight.

SANDOVAL: Of course. I'm sure you heard just now from an earlier statement from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security had from Secretary Markwayne Mullin essentially setting this potential completion date for the border wall of June of next year. That's from California to Texas. Based on your experience, Blas, what kind of obstacles do you expect the Trump administration to face as it pursues what is a pretty ambitious goal?

NUNEZ-NETO: Well, look, I'll be frank. I think the border wall debate in Washington is one of the dumber policy debates we've had in this country. I think it's crystal clear that there are parts of the border where we need barriers. We need walls. And those are largely the urban and suburban parts of the border where migrants who cross illegally can get away pretty fast.

The border from California to Texas obviously includes a lot of cities. It also includes mountain ranges, deserts, areas where you really don't need walls to stop people, because walls don't really stop people. What they do is they slow them down. So I think it's an incredible waste of taxpayer money to build a wall across the entire border. There are much better ways to secure the border than that.

SANDOVAL: Yes. And yet the Trump administration remains fairly determined in doing this. But you also consider the math. In fact, Axios is doing that math, reporting that there's some nearly 700 miles of primary border wallets left to build. And they spoke to a CBP official.

[04:40:01]

They calculate the government that would actually have to build barrier segments at about 13 miles a week. That's about 20 kilometers. I mean, do you see that at all as being something realistic?

NUNEZ-NETO: I don't -- I mean, I think again, you're not talking about building wall in kind of flat parts of the border. You're talking about, you know, going over mountain ranges and some pretty remote areas. I think that's, you know, unlikely to be achieved in the time frame they're considering. And, you know, it's obviously going to many billions of dollars to do that.

SANDOVAL: And the Trump administration also has referred to the so called smart wall that would likely be reliant on drone technology, just based on your experience with DHS, I mean, relying on that kind of aerial surveillance technology, that certainly wouldn't be anything that's necessarily new, would it?

NUNEZ-NETO: It wouldn't. I mean, I think obviously technology has come a long way, particularly with the advent of AI, you know, and the ability to scan things quickly, accurately, you know, with less involvement of actual people. But you know, we've been using, you know, camera towers, radar systems, unmanned aerial systems, as well as, you know, overhead assets to monitor the border and try to track illegal entries for a long, long time now. So there's nothing new about that. Obviously, I think as technology matures and evolves, there's kind of better ways to do it.

SANDOVAL: Border patrol encounters in fact of migrants, they seem to have plummeted to some of their lowest levels in decades. And when you look at the numbers, Blas, they really did begin to trend downwards towards the tail end of the Biden administration, especially with some of those executive actions. I know that you were part of that.

I'm just curious, in your assessment, do you think that, that this kind of, and you touched on at the top too, and your opinions on this -- on this effort to try to build more wall. I mean, should this at all be anything that the administration should be focusing on given the war and other major domestic issues that American voters are likely going to be worried about come midterms.

NUNEZ-NETO: Well, look, I think my, my personal view is that the president seems to be focused on all the wrong things right now. Obviously we've got, you know, inflation running pretty rampant these days. We've got Americans worried about the cost of the war and other things. You know, building, spending billions of dollars to build walls in parts of the border where we frankly don't need them is just a waste of taxpayer money. And there's other things we could and should be spending that money on, you know.

And I will also just note that, you know, while the president has largely succeeded in slowing illegal entries at the border, he's done it in part by ignoring a lot of laws that he finds inconvenient. Many of those laws are now being, you know, up -- many of those actions are now being upended in the courts. And obviously we have some Supreme Court rulings this week that will potentially complicate things for him some more.

SANDOVAL: Blas Nunez-Neto, thank you so much for your thoughts and for your perspective as always, appreciate your time.

NUNEZ-NETO: Polo, thank you very much. Really appreciate it.

SANDOVAL: And still to come, President Trump opens the Great American State Fair. We'll take you to Washington to hear from people celebrating America's 250th anniversary.

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[04:46:23]

SANDOVAL: Precious you staying with me. So the Great American State Fair, it's now underway as part of the nation's 250th anniversary celebration. President Trump, he held a rally on Wednesday to kick off the event, which runs through July 10th. CNN's Donie O'Sullivan spoke with some of the people attending the event.

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DONIE O'SULLIVAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): All the fun of the fair. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm very excited. I have come all the way from Honolulu, Hawaii.

O'SULLIVAN: This is the Great American State Fair.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're going to see the president and we're really excited. This is a great day.

MARILYN SMITH, CINCINNATI, OHIO: I remember as a kid celebrating 1976 in the bicentennial, you know, and here I am all these years later, probably dressed as stupid as I was back then. But I'm very proud of the United States, no matter who the president is. I love the country.

O'SULLIVAN (voice-over): Ostensibly, this is a celebration of America's 250th birthday. But like all things here in Washington, D.C., President Trump has made it about himself. Trump is kicking it all off with a campaign style rally, one that he says is the rally to end all rallies.

EDWARD X. YOUNG, OCEAN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY: Today will be my 116th Trump rally. A Trump rally, it's the greatest show on earth.

O'SULLIVAN: Now, there was supposed to be a whole slate of musical artists playing at this fair over the next few weeks but many of them pulled out because they said it was too political an event.

ZACK, HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA: You know, I mean, the artists who pulled out, you know, they have the right to make their own choice. We're allowed to make our own decisions, you know, but we can also get along as far as that.

O'SULLIVAN: Instead, Trump favorite Lee Greenwood will be performing. And Alexis Wilkins, she's the girlfriend of the FBI director, Kash Patel.

Lee Greenwood is performing tonight, and so is Kash Patel's girlfriend, who's a country singer, so.

SMITH: Oh, no. Country music? Well, I did -- I think the army band is in the choirs. I'm sure they're going to be really good.

O'SULLIVAN: You're looking forward to that.

SMITH: Yes.

O'SULLIVAN: All of this is happening with a backdrop of a split in MAGA about Israel, Iran, and the economy.

SUZETTE, ALABAMA: I'm never happy with war, I will say. However, I have chosen to trust that the administration knows things I don't know. And I can only hope that it's over soon.

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SANDOVAL: Thank you, Donie O'Sullivan. So forget the experts. Animals, they're the ones making the calls now. Furry, feathered, or even underwater in some cases. They're all forecasters picking World Cup winners. We'll show you who's got the best instincts.

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[04:52:48]

SANDOVAL: Welcome back. After it was another exciting day of triumphs and in some cases defeats at the FIFA men's World Cup on Wednesday. Mexico completing a perfect group stage winning all three games in Group A with a three-nil victory over Czech Republic. Also in group A, a step stunning upset, South Africa defeated South Korea 1-nil. South Africa is sitting second in the group now with South Korea knocked down to third.

And a shutout in Group C with Brazil beating Scotland 3-nil, taking the top spot in that group. Hope is still alive, though, for Scotland, who sits in third place.

And here's a look at the line-up for today. Matches, including face offs between Japan and Sweden that's happening in Dallas. Turkey facing the U.S. and L.A., Paraguay and Australia in San Francisco.

And animals around the world, they are getting in on this World Cup action. They are now making their own predictions on who will win it all. CNN's Don Riddell shows us which prognosticators might potentially have the hottest streak. Look at this.

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DON RIDDELL, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR (voice-over): Meet Swimbappe, a goldfish in Toronto who, quote, "predicts World Cup matches every morning." The competing country's flags are placed above the tank and below in the water. Swimbappe swims either left or right to put in his prediction. His owners say he has a good record of the decisive outcome. So far, the fish has correctly predicted around 75 percent of the time.

TIM GLENN, CREATIVE DIRECTOR, ONEMETHOD: So this is kind of our way of participating in this big cultural moment that's happening for our city here in Toronto and also for our country here in Canada. But we'll see -- we'll see what happens. We have to trust the fish.

RIDDELL (voice-over): A trio of lions at Dallas Zoo are also taking the pitch. Paper mache soccer balls filled with food are scattered around a goal with two flags on either side. Whichever side they go for first represents their pick. However, their lead zoologist says the exercise is more than just being the best guesser.

MAGGIE KLOZA, LEAD ZOOLOGIST, DALLAS ZOO: So this is an enrichment for them. And so enrichment is very important and elicits certain natural behaviors. So we want them to scratch, to hunt, to search, and this is our way of doing it. So we do something like this every single day for them so they have the best lives and they're very enriched in their lives.

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RIDDELL (voice-over): For some, this isn't their first World Cup. An orangutan from Germany has been participating in this tradition for over 20 years. Walter is faced with two sacks of competing countries and the one he pulls down is his prediction.

MARCEL STAWINOGA, SPOKESPERSON, DORTMUND ZOO (through translator): There are so many World Cup oracles or football predictors these days, but Sumatran orangutan, Walter is definitely the most experienced one we have here in Germany. No one else comes close.

RIDDELL (voice-over): Retinia the shark, Tarak the elephant and Junior the dog are also making their picks for the World Cup. They are all following in the footsteps or the tentacles of Paul the Octopus. The late sea creature rose to fame during the 2010 World Cup when he correctly predicted eight games out of eight. That's a hard act to follow. But if any of our furry, finned or feathered friends can do something similar, they'll be guaranteed World Cup immortality.

Don Riddell, CNN.

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SANDOVAL: Olympic athletes can now get paid after competing in the Summer or Winter Games. The International Olympic Committee has announced a new 100 million dollar fund to provide $10,000 grants to eligible athletes. They will, however, have to meet certain criteria, including not testing positive for doping. The fund will first be open to those complete -- who got a chance to compete in the Milano Cortina Winter Games earlier this year.

And scientists with the European Space Agency, they've now unveiled this largest high resolution photo ever taken of the center of our Milky Way galaxy. What they're calling is -- this is actually what they're calling it is the crowded heart. It was captured by the Euclid telescope, the mosaic containing more than 60 million individual stars. And it was assembled in a bit more than a day. Scientists are saying that the image could help confirm the existence of distant planets beyond our solar system and maybe even measure their mass by tracking subtle changes in starlight over time.

That is our time. Thank you so much for joining me the last hour of news. I'm Polo Sandoval in New York. Our coverage continues with CNN "Headline Express."

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