President Trump’s January 20, 2025, Executive Orders titled, “Securing our Borders” and “Declaring a National Emergency at the Southern Border of the United States,” make clear that securing the borders of our Nation is a priority for this Administration. To achieve operational control of the border DHS must, consistent with existing law, build the physical infrastructure necessary to secure the southern border of the United States.
Since the Border Patrol began constructing border walls more than 30 years ago, these walls have proved to be a critical component in gaining operational control of the border. CBP utilizes a comprehensive approach to border security that leverages local, state, and federal law enforcement partners and use of technology, infrastructure, and enforcement personnel to secure the Southwest border. The border wall is one element of CBP’s approach to border security that provides persistent impedance and denial to illegal cross-border activity.
Below are frequently asked questions and answers about the border wall system.
General
The border wall system includes a combination of various types of infrastructure such as an internally hardened steel-bollard wall or waterborne barrier, all-weather roads, lighting, enforcement cameras, and other detection technology.
- CBP has more than 85 miles of new border wall and waterborne barrier funded with prior year appropriations in various stages of planning and construction. These projects are located within the U.S. Border Patrol’s (USBP) San Diego, Yuma, Tucson, El Paso, and the Rio Grande Valley Sectors.
- In addition, CBP and USBP are working with the Department of Defense and the Texas National Guard to deploy temporary barriers to include concertina wire, razor wire, chain link fencing, and Normandy style barriers to stop illegal cross-border activity.
- CBP Awards First Border Wall Contract of President Trump's Second Term
Purpose
- The primary goal of the border wall and waterborne barriers are to gain operational control of the border. These border barriers are intended to provide persistent impedance and denial to illegal cross-border activity.
- While anchored by the border barrier and the impedance and denial capability it brings, the border wall system’s complementary investments in roads, lighting and technology address domain awareness and access and mobility requirements of Border Patrol agents.
CBP utilizes a comprehensive approach to border security that leverages local, state, and federal law enforcement partners and use of technology, infrastructure, and enforcement personnel to secure the Southwest border. The border wall system is one element of CBP’s approach to border security.
U.S. Border Patrol’s requirements to achieve operational control of the border determine the locations and priority for new and replacement border wall system. These decisions are also influenced by geographic characteristics along the border, procurement timelines, funding, and other programmatic requirements.
Mileage
The length of the Southwest border with Mexico is approximately 1,954 miles.
The current types of border barrier along the Southwest border include 18–30-foot steel bollard wall, legacy pedestrian fencing (chain link, picket or mesh), concrete levee wall with steel bollards and temporary barriers (concertina wire, razor wire, chain link fence and “Normandy” style vehicle barriers).
Technology
The design for border wall system includes the use of technology, anchored by the steel bollard wall of 18’-30’ in height with an anti-climb topping and patrol road, the barrier is most effective when combined with detection technology, lighting, and cameras creating a “system.”
Cost
CBP operates under an annual budget based on appropriations received from Congress. The border wall projects currently in planning and construction are funded with prior year appropriations from Fiscal Years (FY) 2020 and 2021. CBP has not received any new funding for border wall system since FY 2021.
Waiver
The Secretary’s waiver authority allows DHS to waive certain environmental laws to ensure the expeditious construction of physical barriers, by minimizing the risk of administrative delays. Projects executed under a waiver are critical steps to secure the southern border and reinforce our commitment to border security.
The Secretary’s waiver authority is derived from Section 102(c) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, as amended (“IIRIRA”), an authority granted to the Secretary by Congress.
Utilizing the authority provided by Congress, the Secretary’s waiver minimizes the risk of project delays and, in turn, puts DHS in a better position to continue to progress towards a secure southern border.
The waiver includes various environmental, natural resource, and land management laws, including the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act. For a full list of covered laws, please consult the published waiver/s, which are publicly available on the Federal Register and include the complete list of laws.
No, the waiver does not impact the process required for the acquisition of private property.
Additional Information
