The first border wall construction project under President Donald Trump’s second term is set to begin, with a $70 million contract awarded to a California-based construction company. The project will focus on completing a seven-mile section in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley, one of the busiest corridors for illegal crossings.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confirmed the contract was awarded to Granite Construction Co., which will be responsible for installing new border barriers in Hidalgo County. The move follows Trump’s executive orders reinstating emergency measures to secure 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
The Biden administration’s decision to cancel border wall contracts left gaps that were exploited by human smugglers and drug cartels. CBP officials say the newly approved project will close those critical openings, preventing further illegal crossings in the area.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem visited the border over the weekend, providing updates on the administration’s progress. In a video posted to social media, Noem stood next to an unfinished section of the wall, stating, “We’re going to continue to make America safe again.”
Illegal border crossings have fallen by 95% since Trump took office, according to recent reports. The administration has emphasized that strict enforcement measures and the resumption of wall construction are key factors in the significant decrease.
Vice President J.D. Vance, alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, has also toured the border in recent weeks. When asked how much of the wall the administration plans to complete, Vance confirmed they intend to build the entire barrier.
During Trump’s first term, his administration completed 450 miles of border wall before the Biden administration halted construction. Now, with Trump back in office, efforts to reinforce the nation’s southern border are moving quickly.
