President Donald Trump on Wednesday directed federal resources toward building a wall on the U.S.-Mexican border as part of a series of executive actions expected this week intended to clampdown on immigration.
Trump also stripped federal funding from so-called sanctuary cities that shield undocumented immigrants from federal authorities. He pledged the orders would halt a policy of "catch-and-release" preserved under the Obama administration.
The president will announce the plans during an afternoon visit to the Department of Homeland Security.
In an interview with ABC News, Trump reiterated his claim that Mexico would reimburse the U.S. for the construction border wall, which is expected to cost upward of $15 billion.
"Building this barrier is more than just a campaign promise. It's a common sense first step to really securing our porous border," White House spokesman Sean Spicer said. "This will stem the flow of drugs, crime, illegal immigration into the United States."
Trump predicted the construction would begin in the upcoming months.
Later this week, Trump is expected to order a temporary ban on refugees from "terror prone" countries while cutting the number of refugees who will be allowed to resettle in the U.S.
