DHS moves ahead on border wall construction as illegal immigration dwindles

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Wednesday approved a new waiver for border wall construction as the new administration pushes to fill gaps in the wall in Arizona, California and Texas, even as illegal border crossings slow.

The waivers come a day after the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) revealed that no illegal migrants were released into the interior of the U.S. in May, which marks a drastic decrease from May 2024, when 62,000 illegal migrants were released. 

The newest environmental waiver, which marks the fifth since Noem took over the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), will be used specifically to build 17 miles of wall in the Rio Grande Valley sector of Texas. 

The CBP has also awarded Fisher Sand & Gravel Co. over $300 million to build 27 miles of the wall near Tucson, Arizona, according to Fox News. 

Noem signed a waiver in April that expedited border wall construction north of the California-Mexico border, and she has additionally approved requests to build the border wall in New Mexico.

The waivers help fulfill one of President Donald Trump's campaign promises, where he vowed to resume building a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border, and to conduct mass deportations. 

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.