Border Wall Projects Authorized in Arizona and New Mexico: DHS Waives Environmental Regulations for Construction
The Trump administration has authorized Customs and Border Protection to proceed with border wall projects in Arizona and New Mexico. The Department of Homeland Security has instructed CBP to bypass environmental regulations and start building 36 miles of barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem issued a waiver to allow the federal government to construct 18- to 30-foot slatted walls and roads without waiting for normal administrative approvals. The largest part of the project, the Tucson Sonoita Project, will be in Nogales, Arizona, with additional construction in the Tucson and Yuma regions of Arizona and New Mexico.
In Arizona's Yuma region, wall projects will fill in seven gaps in the Barry M. Goldwater Range, ranging from 40 to 240 feet in length. In New Mexico, 8.3 miles of wall will be part of the Santa Teresa Wall Project, the Wall Project Anapra, and near an unspecified port of entry. The projects are funded through unused money appropriated by Congress in fiscal years 2020 and 2021. The environmental waiver issued by Noem allows for the quick construction of barriers where needed without waiting for land impact studies.
The DHS stated that projects executed under the waiver are crucial for securing the southern border and reinforcing the commitment to border security. Noem cited her authority under the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to waive the regulations. This is the second waiver issued by Noem, following plans announced in April to build 2.5 miles of barrier in California. Trump's administration had campaigned to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, with funding obtained through Congress and redirected from other departments.
Former President Joe Biden canceled remaining wall projects in early 2021, but some funds are still available for unfinished projects. The authorization for the border wall projects in Arizona and New Mexico represents a continuation of the efforts initiated during the Trump administration to enhance border security and construct barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border.