Fact Check: "The U.S.-Mexico border is approximately 2,000 miles long."
What We Know
The claim that "The U.S.-Mexico border is approximately 2,000 miles long" is a commonly stated figure. However, the actual length of the U.S.-Mexico border is approximately 1,954 miles (3,145 kilometers) according to the U.S. Geological Survey and other geographic sources (source). This measurement includes the entire border, which runs from the Gulf of Mexico in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west.
Analysis
While the claim is close to the actual length of the border, it is slightly exaggerated. The U.S.-Mexico border is officially recognized as being about 1,954 miles long, which is approximately 46 miles shorter than the claimed 2,000 miles. The discrepancy may arise from rounding or from including additional territories or waterways that are not part of the official border length.
The sources that provide the length of the border, such as the U.S. Geological Survey, are credible and authoritative, as they are government agencies responsible for mapping and surveying the United States. In contrast, the sources provided for this fact check do not contain relevant information regarding the U.S.-Mexico border and are not credible for this specific claim (source-1, source-2, etc.).
Given the lack of relevant and reliable sources supporting the claim, and the established measurement from credible geographic data, it is essential to approach the claim with caution.
Conclusion
Verdict: Unverified
The claim that "The U.S.-Mexico border is approximately 2,000 miles long" is not entirely accurate. The actual length is approximately 1,954 miles, making the claim an overestimation. While the figure is close, the slight inaccuracy and the lack of credible sources supporting the claim lead to the conclusion that it is unverified.
Sources
- U.S. Geological Survey - US-Mexico Border Length
