It was a central campaign theme in 2016 and will no doubt be again in 2020, but Donald Trump has so far failed to build any new border wall, according to the Washington Examiner:

“The Trump administration has not installed a single mile of new wall in a previously fenceless part of the U.S.-Mexico border in the 30 months since President Trump assumed office, despite his campaign promise to construct a “big beautiful wall.” 

“In a statement last week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the federal agency overseeing border barrier construction, confirmed that all the fencing completed since Trump took office is “in place of dilapidated designs” because the existing fence was in need of replacement.“

According to the Examiner, the Trump administration has installed an average of 1.7 miles per month of barrier but “none of it in areas that did not previously have some sort of barrier.“

Earlier this year the Trump campaign began using the campaign slogan “Finish the Wall” at a rally in El Paso, Texas.

EL PASO, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 11: President Donald Trump walks off stage after speaking during a rally at the El Paso County Coliseum on February 11, 2019 in El Paso, Texas. U.S. President Donald Trump continues his campaign for a wall to be built along the border as the Democrats in Congress are asking for other border security measures. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

The Trump administration tried to circumvent Congress by designating $6.6 billion in Pentagon funding to go for construction of the border wall. A lawsuit followed.

The Examiner writes: “The Justice Department has asked the Supreme Court to weigh in after the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals blocked the White House plan from going forward. The court is expected to rule in the next few weeks.“