Trump Asked For Border Wall Designs

1. Border Wall

During his presidential campaign, Donald Trump repeatedly called for building a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico. He even said he’d somehow find a way to make Mexico pay for the wall. While the whole Mexico-paying part of that might be difficult to achieve, the wall itself could actually happen.

2. Taking Proposals

In March, U.S. Customs and Border Protection sent out a call for contractors to submit proposals on how they would build the wall. The call for proposals is even up on their website. It seems to be a pretty standard procedure when it comes to private contractors hoping to land a government contract.

3. MADE Collective

But one proposal for the wall is anything but standard. It was submitted by the MADE Collective, which they describe “as a cross-disciplinary national team of architects, builders, designers, engineers and urban planners from Mexico and the United States.” Their proposal is a bit different — mostly because what they proposed isn’t actually a wall.

4. Otra Nation

Their proposal is called Otra Nation. Basically, it would take land along the border and turn it into “The World’s First Shared Co-Nation between Mexico and the United States.” And what they would do with that land is pretty amazing.

5. Becoming Partners

Otra Nation is described as “a regenerative territory open to citizens of both Mexico and the United States that is co-maintained by both governments.” They added that “Physical land and the initial investment will be provided by both countries and the infrastructure and services will be built with a workforce of 50% Mexico and 50% American.” So it would be a true partnership between the two countries.

6. Agriculture Center

The land in Otra Nation would be primarily used for farming. They describe it as “a 10KM wide transnational regenerative agriculture system that will become the bread basket of our two countries.” It would create tens of thousands of jobs, and provide food for people of both the U.S. and Mexico.

7. Solar Energy

They also want to make Otra Nation eco-friendly with a clean energy approach. The area will have no oil or mining, and will instead be “rounding its energetic solutions in solar farming and electric transportation. The solar farming means they can store up solar energy along the border, and use it to “produce 7,942,811 GWh of clean energy, enough to provide with solar power both Mexico and the United States combined.”

8. Hyperloop

Perhaps the biggest highlight of the proposal is the 22T Hyperloop Transportation System. “By utilizing pioneering US built technologies we can create the fastest and most sustainable transportation corridor in the world. Starting at San Diego/Tijuana and running between the new trans-national boundary.” The infrastructure cost for both countries would be $1 trillion.

9. Self-Governing

Otra Nation would be a territory of both the U.S. and Mexico, but would ultimately govern itself. “Otra Nation will be listed as an unincorporated organized territory of both countries, allowing citizens the freedom to live and work in harmony,” the proposal states. “The self-governing territory with have locally elected governors and territorial legislatures.”

10. Security System

Although Otra Nation is about bringing people of two nations together, security systems would still be in place. “At the major hyperloop station hubs and on the boundaries Otra will be a series of non-intrusive checkins allowing North Americans to pass freely using the OTRA ID system,” the proposal states. The ID system would be created “By bringing together the latest advancements in vocal, iris and biometric recognition systems.”

11. Applications

The chances of Otra Nation being approved by the U.S. are pretty slim. But if it is approved, they’ll be taking applications from people who wish to become Otra Nations citizens. So you too could be part of this multi-national border utopia.

12. MADE’s Background

MADE may have some extremely idealistic ideas, but they have a history of getting things done. “Members of the team have advised and been recognized by the last three Presidents of the United States and two of the last three Presidents of Mexico,” the proposal states. They’ve also provided environmental solutions for over 40 different countries.

13. Working Together

“Since the end of WWII the planet has seen a ten-fold increase in physical borders,” states MADE. “These visual scars are deeper still when nations share a rich and vibrant history together. Mexico and the United States have always prospered when they see each others strengths by working together.” They believe Otra Nation would be the ultimate result of a collaboration between these two nations.

Trump Asked For Border Wall Designs