Border wall protesters rally in California amid Trump’s visit

The protesters, including activists, immigrants and opponents of the Trump’s proposed plan, gathered near the San Ysidro border crossing in California on Tuesday to express their discontent about the construction of the controversial border wall along the southern US border with Mexico.

The crowds carried banners that read "No ban! No wall!" and chanted "we won't pay for your wall," in reference to Trump's insistence that the structure should be financed by Mexico.

The protest was held as the US president was inspecting eight 9-meter-tall border wall prototypes built last year in a bid to fulfill his signature campaign promise.

"He is a racist and xenophobic person and I'm tired of his hatred and that's why I'm here because I want to say he's not welcome here and I'm tired of him using my life as a bargaining chip,” said Barbara Hernandez, a 26-year-old protester.

"The fact that one, it is a waste of money," said another protester Judith Castro. “The hate, the wall, that is going to divide two countries who have so much in common, the people, everything, why do that?"

Tensions have risen between California and the Trump administration over the state’s refusal to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Moreover, San Diego's City Council last year passed a resolution opposing Trump's proposed wall.

The Trump administration has proposed spending $18 billion over the next 10 years to construct his controversial wall on the border with Mexico, The Associated Press reported in January.

The total length of the border is 1,954 miles (3,145 km) and is one of the most frequently crossed borders in the world.

During his campaign for presidency, Trump suggested that illegal Mexican immigrants in the US were “murderers” and “rapists.” He also promised to build a border wall and make Mexico pay for it.

KD