The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has fast-tracked border wall construction in New Mexico and Arizona by waiving dozens of environmental protection laws—prompting backlash from conservationists and local leaders.

On Tuesday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem signed waivers for 24 federal statutes to accelerate construction of barriers and access roads along roughly 20 miles of New Mexico’s border with Mexico. Two additional waivers, signed Tuesday and Thursday, apply to 16 miles of borderland in Arizona.

According to DHS, the waivers are meant to “ensure the expeditious construction of physical barriers and roads, by minimizing the risk of administrative delays.”

The New Mexico waiver lifts protections under laws such as the National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, and Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.

Critics say the administration is sidestepping crucial safeguards. “Trump is recklessly casting aside the foundational laws that protect endangered species and clean air and water to build a wildlife-killing wall through pristine wilderness,” said Laiken Jordahl, Southwest conservation advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity.

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham also voiced her opposition, warning of potential irreversible damage to sensitive ecosystems and cultural heritage sites. “New Mexico’s archaeological resources and sensitive ecosystems could face permanent damage without proper environmental review,” she said. “While we understand border security concerns, the federal government should engage with state officials before waiving decades of established environmental protections.”

The waiver targets three sections of New Mexico’s border, which DHS labeled “areas of high illegal entry.” However, Jordahl disputes the clarity and accuracy of these designations. “It is extremely frustrating how difficult they make these waivers to track,” he said. “Instead of using simple [latitude and longitude] coordinates, they pick landmarks that are almost impossible for the public to map.”

According to his analysis, one section near Antelope Wells in Hidalgo County—already bordered by a wall—may simply receive additional layers. A second stretch in Luna County currently features vehicle barriers but no wall. Jordahl emphasized the ecological risks: “We’ve seen Mexican gray wolves in this area... ultimately have to turn around, being unable to cross.”

A third section west of Santa Teresa extends more than 12 miles over Mount Cristo Rey to the Rio Grande near El Paso. It contains older mesh barriers, which DHS may replace with newer infrastructure.

Jordahl noted his organization is especially concerned about Arizona, where similar waivers could threaten vital habitats. “Throwing taxpayer money away to wall off the Santa Cruz River and San Rafael Valley would be a death sentence for jaguars, ocelots and other wildlife in the Arizona-Sonora borderlands,” he said. “This is happening while border crossings are at the lowest level in decades. We’ll fight this disastrous project with everything we’ve got.”

The New Mexico segments identified for construction lie near a recently designated military buffer zone known as the New Mexico National Defense Area, which the federal government is using—along with new legal charges—to deter border crossings.

Gov. Lujan Grisham urged the administration to consult with state and local governments before initiating further construction. “New Mexico’s natural and cultural resources deserve consideration in this process,” she said. “Construction that could cause lasting harm to our communities and environment requires meaningful consultation.”

Originally reported by Austin Fisher in Source NM.