Border Wall Construction to Resume Under Trump Administration, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem Announces at Arizona’s Border Wall

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem announced in a video filmed at Arizona’s border with Mexico, that construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall will resume, starting with seven new miles in the U.S. Border Patrol’s Rio Grande Valley Sector.

Standing by the border in Nogales on Sunday, Noem pointed at the wall and said, “You can see where the border wall ends.” She added the construction was beginning that day on seven new miles.

“We’re going to continue to make America safe again,” she said.

DHS posted a similar video on X Monday. It stated, “Under President Trump, border encounters have reached the LOWEST ever recorded. We are stopping the flow of drugs into our communities.” Noem is shown speaking on the video, “This is an announcement to the entire world, America’s borders are closed if you want to come here illegally.”

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) said in a press release Friday that the contract was awarded to Granite Construction Co. for $70,285,846. The first few miles will be constructed in Hidalgo County, Texas.

During the first Trump administration, around 458 miles of border wall were built, but much of it was to repair existing wall or increase the height. Texas has the longest gaps, whereas Arizona and California have made significant advances finishing the wall.

In February, infrastructure improvements were added in the Yuma Border Patrol Sector, including lighting and cameras. Over a mile of new razor wire was added to the base of the border fence east of the San Luis Port of Entry. Justin De La Torre, Yuma Border Patrol Chief, told AZ Family that the wire had been purchased during the first Trump administration, but Biden put it on hold. Illegal border crossings have decreased from 40 a day there when Biden left office to 12 per day.

Even with a 30-foot tall wall, some illegal immigrants have been seen scaling it with ladders. However, Vice President J.D. Vance said technological tools will be used in addition to the wall in order to keep border crossers out, including AI.

Additionally, due to the Trump administration’s stricter policies, far fewer are attempting to cross the border. Illegal border crossings have decreased by 95 percent under the Trump administration compared to during Joe Biden’s presidency, the lowest level since 1967.

The Green Valley Samaritans, an organization which assists illegal immigrants, reported that only 79 crossed the border in February near their camp by the Arizona border, a steep decrease from previous months where up to 30 would cross per day. The group’s website is no longer functional.

The decrease in crossings was so significant that five temporary illegal immigrant processing centers along the border have been closed. Two are located in Arizona, in Tucson and Yuma. The closures will save CBP between $5 million and $30 million per month. CBP compiles information and charts about the apprehensions on its website.

ICE has arrested 32,000 illegal immigrants since Trump took office, more than were arrested during the entire year in 2024 under Biden, Noem said.

Real America’s Voice correspondent Ben Bergquam, who produces videos on Arizona’s border with Mexico, condemned the Biden administration’s halting of the border wall in 2021 after Biden took office. He posted a video on X Friday, “As we were driving through the remote Coronado National Forest, between Nogales and Naco we ran into the contractors that were fired by Joe Biden the day he stole office. They are now set to continue building America’s border wall thanks to President @realDonaldTrump!”

Arizona voters overwhelmingly voted in favor of Proposition 314, the Secure Border Act last fall, which allows local law enforcement to cooperate with ICE to arrest and deport illegal immigrants. Passing with 61 percent approval, it also makes it a state crime to illegally cross the border, punishable by up to six months in jail.

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Rachel Alexander is a reporter at The Arizona Sun Times and The Star News Network. Follow Rachel on Twitter / X. Email tips to [email protected].