The Trump administration has awarded a $70 million contract to restart construction on the U.S.-Mexico border wall — fulfilling a key promise to strengthen border security. The project will add seven miles of new wall in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley — an area known for high levels of illegal crossings.
Granite Construction Co., a California-based company, was selected for the contract — according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The new section will be built in Hidalgo County — an area where gaps in the border barrier were left open after the Biden administration halted construction.
🚨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
President Donald Trump signed executive orders in his first days back in office — directing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to take immediate action in securing the border. The administration has prioritized finishing previously planned construction and adding new sections to prevent illegal crossings and smuggling activity.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem recently visited the border to highlight the administration’s progress. Standing near an incomplete section of the wall — she said, “As of today, we’re starting seven new miles of construction.” She added that the administration will continue its work to secure the southern border.
Illegal border crossings have sharply declined since Trump returned to office — with reports showing a 95% drop in encounters. The administration credits this decrease to the reinstatement of strict immigration policies — along with increased enforcement at key crossing points.
Vice President J.D. Vance, along with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, previously visited the border to oversee security operations. Vance confirmed that the administration’s goal is to complete the entire border wall — not just repair existing sections.
Under Trump’s first term, 450 miles of border wall were completed before the Biden administration halted construction. With funding restored and new contracts in place — DHS is working quickly to close gaps and fortify high-traffic areas.
The latest construction contract marks the first of what is expected to be several additional projects aimed at further strengthening the border.
