Texas starts building Trump-sized border wall

The state has broken ground on a border wall project intended to stop illegal immigration along the Mexican boundary, marking an extravagant gesture in an attempt to defend its borders as Washington remains idle.

The go-it-alone effort is meant to deter mass migration to and through Texas after a year that saw more people come across between ports of entry than during any year in the Border Patrol’s 97-year existence.

“We're actually breaking ground and sending a message more importantly to the federal government that if you're not going to do your...