Trump's Border Wall Could be ‘Catastrophic' for Environment, Endangered Species: Activists

The promise of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border was a cornerstone of President Donald Trump's campaign. From the moment he announced it during his candidacy kickoff address in June 2015, critics denounced it as racist while others expressed skepticism about its cost-effectiveness.

But, as NBC News reports, there has been an often overlooked issue — the potentially "catastrophic" environmental toll the wall could have on the hundreds of species that span the frontier, activists say.

More than 100 animals that are listed as threatened, endangered or candidates for such status under the Endangered Species Act from coast to coast could potentially be impacted by Trump's proposal, according to a 2016 analysis of data from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

"It will choke off life from both sides," wildlife biologist Jeff Corwin told NBC News.

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