DHS Bypasses Red Tape to Build New Mexico Border Barriers Faster
Published Date: 12/18/2025
Notice
Summary
Starting December 18, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security is speeding up the building of barriers and roads along the New Mexico border by temporarily skipping some usual rules. This move helps stop illegal crossings and keeps the country safer. It affects border construction projects and shows the government’s serious commitment to border security without delay.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Immediate border construction in New Mexico
Starting December 18, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security will immediately construct additional physical barriers and roads in a segment of the U.S.–Mexico border in New Mexico described as from Border Monument 73 east and north to Border Monument 47 (the project area). The construction activity includes installing barriers and roads to prevent unlawful entries in that El Paso Sector segment.
Waiver of many environmental and historic laws
For construction in the project area (Border Monument 73 to 47), DHS has waived in their entirety a long list of federal statutes and related legal requirements—including the National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, National Historic Preservation Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Clean Air Act, and many others—with respect to accessing project areas, staging, earthwork, installation of barriers, roads, lighting, cameras, sensors, drainage, erosion controls, and related activities.
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