The United States Department of Defense on Monday authorized the release of $1 billion to plan and build a 57-mile section of pedestrian fencing, roads and lighting along the border between the United States and Mexico.

The country’s Acting Secretary of Defense, Patrick Shanahan said in a memo addressed to the Secretary of Homeland Security, Kirstjen Nielsen that the Department of Defense had the authority to support counter-narcotics activities near international boundaries.

Last week, the Pentagon gave Congress a list that included $12.8 billion of construction projects for which it said funds could be redirected for construction along the US-Mexico border.

US President, Donald Trump had last month declared a national emergency in a bid to fund his promised border wall without waiting for congressional approval.