The official, who briefed a small group of reporters on
condition of anonymity, said the money would go toward
purchasing private land in the Rio Grande Valley in south Texas
and advance purchases of steel.
The administration hopes to build 60 miles (96 km) of new steel
bollard fencing along the border with 2018 funding and an
additional 64 miles (103 km) with 2019 funding.
The $3 billion will be on top of this year's $14 billion request
for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency.
The border wall was a signature issue for Trump in his 2016
presidential election campaign. He pledged that Mexico would pay
for the wall, which the Mexican government has insisted it will
not do.
Democrats sharply oppose the wall, which Trump has said is aimed
at keeping out illegal immigrants and drug smugglers.
The new fencing would be constructed in areas known to be used
by migrants crossing into the United States, the official said.
Wall funding has been caught up in a debate over how to protect
young "Dreamers," people who were brought to the country
illegally as children.
Trump has offered to give the Dreamers protection from
deportation and a pathway to citizenship over 10 to 12 years, in
exchange for $25 billion in wall funding and tightened
restrictions on legal immigration, but Democrats have balked at
the terms.
(Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Peter Cooney)
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