Construction has begun on a 27-mile section of the U.S.–Mexico border wall in southern Arizona’s San Rafael Valley, igniting strong opposition from environmentalists and residents who warn of devastating impacts on wildlife and local water resources.
The 30-foot steel barrier, championed by the Trump administration, cuts through one of the last unbroken grasslands in the American West — an area considered among the most biodiverse ecosystems in North America. Heavy construction equipment has moved in to replace older, low-vehicle barriers with a continuous wall designed to block human crossings but likely to trap animals within fragmented habitats.
Experts fear the project will disrupt the natural migration of endangered species, including jaguars, ocelots, mountain lions, and bears. “This wall will sever populations that have existed in a connected ecosystem for thousands of years,” said Russ McSpadden, a conservation advocate with the Center for Biological Diversity.
Environmentalists also warn of water depletion from the drilling of new wells to supply concrete for the wall — a critical concern in Arizona’s drought-stricken landscape.
The project proceeds despite an ongoing federal lawsuit challenging the administration’s decision to waive more than 30 environmental and public health laws to speed construction. DHS Director Kristi Noem defended the move, calling it “necessary for national security,” while Customs and Border Protection (CBP) declined to comment on the litigation.
Local residents remain unconvinced. Linda Shore, who lives near the construction zone, called the wall “a show of force for nothing,” noting that unlawful crossings have fallen by more than 90% in the Tucson sector since August 2024. “This area has never been a major crossing point,” she said. “Now it looks like an industrial site.”
Despite legal challenges, construction is continuing across several southern states as part of a broader effort to close remaining gaps along the 1,954-mile border.
