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This fact brief was originally published as an experiment to test the concepts behind fact briefs.
Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of useful information in fact briefs like this one, not all of them reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
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FACT BRIEF

Is there evidence that Trump Administration efforts to build a border wall have reduced illegal drug availability in the US?

By Austin Tannenbaum
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NO

Illegal drug availability in the U.S. remained persistently high during the first three years of the Trump Administration while it worked to extend and improve a wall along the border with Mexico.

According to Drug Enforcement Administration annual assessments, in 2017 and 2018 heroin availability increased, methamphetamine availability remained virtually unchanged and fentanyl became "widely available."

In 2019, heroin and meth availability increased or remained stable in all 23 DEA field divisions. Mexico remained the "primary source" of heroin in the U.S. and fentanyl availability was "high and increasing."

Any effect from the border wall has been limited. With Congress resisting funding, only 122 miles of barriers had been built by February 2020 along the nearly 2,000-mile border. An additional 280 miles had been completed as of Nov. 16, 2020.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
Drug Enforcement Administration: 2017 National Drug Threat Assessment
Drug Enforcement Administration: 2018 National Drug Threat Assessment
Drug Enforcement Administration: 2019 National Drug Threat Assessment
Politico: After delays, Trump on track to build more than 450 miles of border wall
Customs and Border Protection: Border wall system
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Gigafact
Between 2020 and 2022, under close editorial supervision, Gigafact contracted a group of freelance writers and editors to test the concepts for fact briefs and provide inputs to our software development process. We call this effort Gigafact Foundry. Over the course of these two years, Gigafact Foundry writers published over 1500 fact briefs in response to claims they found online. Their important work forms the basis of Gigafact formats and editorial guidelines, and is available to the public on Gigafact.org. Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of relevant information to be found, not all fact briefs produced by Gigafact Foundry reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date and need to be looked at with fresh eyes, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
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About fact briefs published on Gigafact
Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.