The U.S. federal government has awarded 10 construction contracts worth $4.5 billion to expand the border barrier along the southwest frontier by 230 miles, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Friday.
Smart Wall Expansion
The contracts will extend the Smart Wall system, a combination of steel barriers, waterborne barriers, patrol roads, lighting, cameras, and advanced detection technology, designed to strengthen border security.
Seven of the 10 contracts, awarded in September, went to the BCCG Joint Venture, according to DHS and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott said:
“The Smart Wall means more miles of barriers, more technology, and more capability for our agents on the ground. This is how you take control of the border.”
Waivers Issued to Expedite Construction
DHS Secretary Kristin Noem issued two waivers to expedite construction:
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9 miles in the San Diego Sector
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Approximately 30 miles in New Mexico within the El Paso Sector
The specific reasons for the waivers were not disclosed, though such measures are sometimes used to bypass environmental or other regulatory requirements.
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