Granite Construction has won its first border wall contract under President Donald Trump’s second term, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to build barriers along the southern U.S. border. According to a news release dated March 15, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) awarded the $70 million contract to the Watsonville, California-based company to construct 7 miles of new border wall in Hidalgo County, Texas.

The project will be part of the Rio Grande Valley Sector, a crucial region for the U.S. Border Patrol. The construction of the new barriers aims to “close critical openings in the border wall” and bolster the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) ongoing efforts to curb illegal border crossings and smuggling, as detailed in the release. The funding for this project comes from CBP’s fiscal year 2021 budget.

Trump’s Border Wall Legacy and Push for Stronger Control

The border wall has long been a central focus of former President Donald Trump’s political agenda, and his administration's policies on border security have been aggressive. Since taking office, Trump worked tirelessly to implement measures to increase arrests and deportations of unauthorized immigrants. His administration also focused on ramping up the physical barrier along the southern border.

The current border wall project in Hidalgo County is part of Trump’s broader plan to enforce his executive orders issued on January 20, 2021, titled “Securing our Borders” and “Declaring a National Emergency at the Southern Border of the United States.” These executive orders tasked the Secretary of Defense with taking all “appropriate actions” to build physical barriers to establish complete operational control of the southern border.

Progress Under the Trump Administration

During Trump’s first term, about 458 miles of fencing and barriers were constructed across several states along the nearly 2,000-mile southern border. According to Politifact's analysis of CBP data, a significant portion of this work involved upgrading or replacing existing barriers. The number of miles of new primary border barriers built was around 52 miles.

Biden’s Role and the Continuation of Wall Construction

Although President Joe Biden made a campaign promise to halt the construction of the border wall upon taking office, his administration later moved to expedite the completion of certain border wall sections, particularly in South Texas. Additionally, Biden’s team worked to fill gaps in the wall near Yuma, Arizona, and allocated billions of dollars to reinforce and expand border facilities.

In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott also continued border wall construction under the Biden administration, spending an estimated $3 billion to build about 50 miles of new barriers, according to the Texas Tribune.

Granite Construction’s Previous Border Wall Projects

This new project in Hidalgo County is not Granite Construction’s first involvement with border wall projects. The company has previously secured multiple contracts to build border fences in areas like Nogales, Arizona; Imperial, California; and El Paso, Texas, as reported by local media outlets. Granite's experience with border barrier construction has positioned it as a key player in these large-scale projects, making the latest contract another important step in its long-standing involvement in border security initiatives.

Project Wins and Broader Context

This recent win for Granite comes amid a larger push to bolster the U.S.-Mexico border wall. Over the years, numerous contractors, including Granite, have played a vital role in fulfilling the Trump administration’s goal of strengthening border security. While the political landscape has shifted, and the debate over the wall continues, projects like the one in Hidalgo County demonstrate the ongoing nature of these efforts.

The construction of new barriers is just one piece of the broader immigration and border security debate. As the situation evolves, both state and federal governments continue to invest in infrastructure and technology to manage the flow of people and goods across the border.

While public opinion on the wall remains divided, the progress of these border security measures continues to influence political discourse, particularly in regions directly impacted by border-related challenges. The continuation of such projects also reflects the long-term nature of efforts to manage immigration and prevent illegal crossings into the U.S.

Originally reported by Julie Strupp in Construction Dive.