By Matthew Holloway |

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under Secretary Kristi Noem has ordered the issuance of three new waivers to allow construction on 36 miles of new border wall in Arizona and New Mexico to begin. The largest stretch of border wall will be constructed at the Tucson Sonoita Project covering approximately 24.7 miles of the border.

Under the power of the waivers issued by Noem on Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security is able to bypass environmental laws such as the National Environmental Policy Act in order to expeditiously construct physical barriers and roads. Waivers of this kind are authorized by Section 102 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996.

Protecting what matters most. 🇺🇸@Sec_Noem issued three new waivers for border wall construction, ensuring expeditious construction of approximately 36mi of new border wall in Arizona and New Mexico. This closes gaps in the border wall and enhances security operations in the… pic.twitter.com/2u1tqmP9sX

— CBP (@CBP) June 5, 2025

According to a press release from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the waivers will cover projects that were already funded under appropriations for Fiscal Year 2020 and 2021. In addition to the major stretch between Tucson and Sonoita, the waivers will cover approximately seven miles of the El Paso Sector’s Santa Teresa Secondary Wall Project, about 2.1 miles of the Tucson 10-6 Project, as well as allowing for the closure of several gaps in the El Paso and Yuma Sectors ranging in size from 40 feet up to a fifth of a mile, with seven prominent gaps in the Yuma Sector Barry M. Goldwater Range (BMGR) Wall Project South of Gila Bend.

🚨Update: The Great Wall on the Border is back under construction after a 4 year delay!! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/LFolFcGwMx

— US Homeland Security News (@defense_civil25) June 4, 2025

The full breakdown by project is:

• El Paso Sector Santa Teresa Secondary Wall Project (~7 miles)
• El Paso Sector 16-4 Wall Project Anapra (~1.3 miles)
• El Paso Sector 2 Wall Project & Port of Entry (POE) Gate (~0.2 mile & ~40 feet)
• Yuma Sector Barry M. Goldwater Range (BMGR) Wall Project (7 gaps; ~40-240 feet)
• Tucson Sonoita Project (~24.7 miles)
• Tucson 10-4 Project (~0.2 miles)
• Tucson 10-6 Project (~2.1 miles)

DHS described the newly resumed projects by stating that they will “close critical gaps in the border wall and enhance border security operations in the U.S. Border Patrol’s El Paso, Tucson and Yuma Sectors.”

Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.