Has Trump Made Any Progress With The Border Wall?

Today marks the 18th day of the U.S. government shutdown and that means the record has been tied for the second-longest shutdown ever. The standoff over President Trump's long-promised border wall shows no signs of ending and he has said that he will address the nation to discuss the matter at 9 p.m. ET Tuesday before visiting the southern border. There is speculation that the Trump administration will use a national emergency declaration to bypass Congress and force construction of the wall.

Trump has already said several times that the U.S. has built new walls along the border, saying as recently as Friday that his administration has built a brand new wall in San Diego. Even though several replacement barriers are being installed in Southern California, no extensions of the current barriers have been undertaken. The New York Times has kept track of the progress, or lack of progress, of the infamous wall. Barriers that existed before Trump took office stretch for 654 miles while approval has been granted for 124 miles of replacement barriers. So far, the length of barriers constructed since Trump took office stands at zero miles.