U.S. Customs and Border Protection has awarded a new contract for border wall construction to Fisher Sand & Gravel Co., marking the second such contract under President Trump's current administration. The $309,463,000 contract will facilitate the construction of approximately 27 miles of new border wall in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, part of the U.S. Border Patrol’s Tucson Sector. This effort aims to close gaps left from previous contracts canceled during the Biden Administration.
The Tucson Sector is noted for high levels of illegal entry attempts and significant smuggling activities involving individuals and narcotics. Continuing the construction of the border wall in this area is intended to help the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) counter these issues effectively.
Additionally, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has issued a waiver to expedite further border wall construction in Texas, within the USBP’s Rio Grande Valley Sector. This waiver allows for an additional 17 miles of new border wall, marking it as the fifth waiver signed by Secretary Noem to ensure swift progress on these projects.
The waiver permits DHS to bypass certain environmental laws like the National Environmental Policy Act to prevent administrative delays. These waivers are considered crucial for securing the southern U.S. border by facilitating quick construction of necessary physical barriers and roads.
The RGV 02/04/10 Wall Project in Texas currently covers around nine miles with options for an additional eight miles and is funded through CBP’s FY 2021 appropriations. The legal basis for issuing this waiver comes from Section 102 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection remains a central figure in American law enforcement as it continues its mission to safeguard national security through various measures including innovation and collaboration.
