DHS Moves to Build 1,422 Miles of Smart Wall Along Southern Border
The Department of Homeland Security has unveiled a plan to build roughly 1,422 miles of new border barrier and supporting systems along the U.S.-Mexico line. The initiative is being billed as a Smart Wall that pairs physical barriers with modern technology to help agents do their jobs. Officials say the project will stretch from the Pacific near San Diego to the Rio Grande at Brownsville, Texas.
Agency leaders have already issued initial contracts to get construction rolling, signaling this is more than an outline on paper. While precise timetables were not released in detail, work is expected to proceed in phases across multiple sectors. The plan is being framed as a sweeping push to secure thousands of miles that have been porous for years.
President Trump campaigned in 2016 on building a southern border wall and this moves directly toward fulfilling that promise, a central plank of modern Republican policy. He was unable to secure full funding during his first term, but the One Big Beautiful Bill Act largely appropriated the remaining funds needed. With money allocated and contracts underway, supporters say the political will and resources are finally aligned.
“For years, Washington talked about border security but failed to deliver. This president changed that,” 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.”
That message is backed by a hard-line enforcement claim from customs officials who report that under the current administration, CBP has released zero illegal aliens into the U.S. interior in multiple months. Supporters point to that figure as evidence the new approach prioritizes detention and orderly processing over mass releases. Opponents will challenge logistics and costs, but Republicans argue outcomes on the ground matter most.
Administration officials emphasize tight oversight and staged rollouts to keep construction moving while addressing legal and environmental requirements. They say regular progress updates will be provided to Congress and to local stakeholders as projects begin on the ground. Spending and schedule will be under scrutiny, and supporters expect accountability to accompany speed.
Smart Wall advocates say the model blends fencing and walls where needed with cameras, sensors and integrated monitoring to push smugglers into monitored zones and give agents time to respond. Early contracts are expected to tackle the most trafficked corridors first while planners map out technology corridors and access roads. The construction phase will be complex and visible, testing both logistics and local cooperation.
For conservatives, this is a win for sovereignty and law enforcement: it turns a longstanding campaign promise into tangible construction and hardened border posture. Expect the project to become a major talking point in debates over immigration, funding priorities and federal enforcement authority. Critics will raise legal and financial objections, but backers say the national interest outweighs delays.
Officials stress the work will not be a single event but a multiyear effort that pairs new barriers with persistent patrol, technology upgrades and manpower. With contracts issued and crews mobilizing, the focus now turns to execution, oversight and whether the Smart Wall achieves measurable reductions in illegal crossings.
