SAN DIEGO — A couple visiting from Salt Lake City paused their Southern California vacation this week to stop by the towering border barrier separating San Diego from Tijuana.

They were struck by the sheer height of the fence and how accessible the area was to the public. Before leaving, they took a selfie in front of the barrier, wanting to commemorate what they described as a “memorable and surreal” visit.

(Unidentified couple from Salt Lake City poses for selfie in front of border barrier between San Diego and Tijuana. Photo: Salvador Rivera/Border Report)

Their snapshot could soon be one of many along an expanded border wall. The White House has requested $46.5 billion to build an additional 700 miles of border wall, along with 900 miles of river barriers and 630 miles of secondary fencing as part of a broader security and spending package.

The proposal comes as the House committee responsible for shaping President Donald Trump’s border security bill pushes for a total of $69 billion for border-related spending. The funding request also includes:

• $5 billion for Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facilities
• $4.1 billion to hire 8,000 new CBP agents, officers, and support staff
• $2 billion for workforce bonuses and recruitment incentives
• $1.07 billion for advanced non-intrusive inspection equipment
• $2.7 billion for enhanced border surveillance technology
• $500 million for unmanned aerial systems
• $450 million for Operation Stonegarden, a FEMA-administered grant program

During a House Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on Tuesday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended the spending plan, emphasizing the administration’s commitment to border security.

“Considering the amount of people that are in the country illegally, many of them perpetuating crimes, we need the resources to continue doing what President Trump has promised the American people to get these individuals out of our country,” said Kristi Noem.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said he plans to bring the border security package to a vote by Memorial Day, setting a tight legislative timeline for a politically charged issue.

Democrats, meanwhile, are gearing up to oppose the measure. According to the Associated Press, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called the proposal part of the “extreme Republican agenda.”

If the bill passes the House, a Senate vote would likely occur in July, setting the stage for a contentious summer debate on immigration, national security, and federal spending priorities.

Beyond Capitol Hill, border communities are bracing for the potential impacts of a massive infrastructure expansion. While supporters argue the additional barriers are necessary to stem illegal crossings and drug smuggling, critics warn of environmental damage, property seizures, and strained diplomatic relations with Mexico.

As the funding request moves forward, travelers like the Utah couple will continue to visit the current border wall, reflecting the complex intersection of security, politics, and personal experience at the nation’s edge.

Originally reported by Salvador Rivera in ABC 4 News.