The Trump administration has officially resumed border wall construction, awarding a $70 million contract to fill gaps left open under the previous administration. The project will focus on a critical stretch of the Rio Grande Valley sector, an area frequently exploited by human smugglers and drug traffickers.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confirmed that Granite Construction Co. was selected for the project. The California-based company will build seven miles of new wall in Hidalgo County, Texas. The contract marks the first official step in President Donald Trump’s second-term commitment to securing the U.S.-Mexico border.
🚨BREAKING: Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announces 7 MORE MILES of border wall is being built starting today.
pic.twitter.com/TTukbg9blz— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) March 16, 2025
CBP officials noted that the selected areas were previously intended for construction before the Biden administration halted progress. The decision to cancel those contracts left key openings in the barrier, creating pathways heavily used by illegal crossers. With Trump’s executive orders reinstating emergency border measures, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been directed to complete unfinished sections and expand new fortifications.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem traveled to the border over the weekend to highlight the renewed construction efforts. Standing in front of an incomplete portion of the wall, she announced, “As of today, we’re starting seven new miles of construction. We’re going to continue to make America safe again.”
The new push for border security follows reports of a 95% drop in illegal crossings since Trump returned to office. The administration credits its strict enforcement policies and renewed focus on physical barriers for the dramatic decrease. Recent figures show that some areas are now reporting the lowest levels of illegal crossings in decades.
Vice President J.D. Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard have also made trips to the border, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to completing the entire wall. Vance emphasized that the goal is not just small projects but full border security.
The Trump administration had previously built 450 miles of new wall before the Biden administration halted construction. Now, with funding restored and contracts in place, DHS is moving swiftly to strengthen the country’s southern defenses.
