Pentagon okays $1bn fund for Mexico wall

Washington: The Pentagon has notified Congress that it has authorised the transfer of $1 billion to begin building a new wall along the US-Mexico border, an election campaign promise of President Donald Trump, drawing immediate objections from senior Democratic lawmakers.

The funds are the first under the national emergency declared by President Trump to bypass Congress and build the barrier he pledged during his 2016 election campaign.

Trump had promised to build a "big beautiful wall", which he said would prevent illegal migration and drug trafficking from Mexico.

Though Trump said Mexico would pay for the wall, the neighbouring country has made it clear that it would not foot the bill.