California Construction News staff writer
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced Friday that they have awarded 10 new construction contracts totaling approximately $4.5 billion to build and expand the Smart Wall system along the U.S. southwest border.
The new contracts, issued between Sept. 15 and 30, 2025, will add 230 miles of new barriers and nearly 400 miles of advanced surveillance and detection technology, marking a major expansion of border security infrastructure under the Trump Administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) initiative.
“For years, Washington talked about border security but failed to deliver. This President changed that,” said CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott. “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.”
The Smart Wall integrates steel barriers, lighting, cameras, sensors, and patrol roads with cutting-edge detection systems designed to help Border Patrol agents prevent illegal crossings. DHS officials said the technology upgrades will also bolster existing wall segments where construction had previously been halted during the Biden Administration.
The new construction contracts are the first funded under the OBBB Act and include limited carryover funds from fiscal year 2021 border wall appropriations that were frozen under prior policy. To expedite the work, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has issued federal waivers for environmental and procurement regulations covering approximately nine miles in California’s San Diego Sector and 30 miles in New Mexico’s El Paso Sector.
The 10 contracts were awarded to several joint ventures and construction firms across multiple Border Patrol sectors:
- San Diego 1 Project: $483 million to BCCG Joint Venture for nine miles of new Smart Wall and 52 miles of system enhancements.
- El Centro 1 Project: $574 million to Fisher Sand & Gravel Co. for eight miles of wall and 63 miles of system attributes.
- Yuma 1 Project: $199 million to Barnard Spencer Joint Venture for 60 miles of technology upgrades.
- Tucson 1 Project: $607 million to BCCG Joint Venture for 23 miles of new secondary wall and 66 miles of system attributes.
- El Paso 1 Project: $155 million to BCCG Joint Venture for seven miles of wall replacement and 22 miles of enhancements.
- El Paso 2 Project: $579 million to Barnard Spencer Joint Venture for 23 miles of new Smart Wall and 81 miles of system upgrades.
- El Paso 3 Project: $850 million to BCCG Joint Venture for 48 miles of new wall and 46 miles of technology.
- Del Rio 1 Project: $565 million to BCCG Joint Venture for 22 miles of Smart Wall and 40 miles of waterborne barriers.
- Del Rio 2 Project: $364 million to BCCG Joint Venture for 10 miles of wall and 23 miles of waterborne barriers.
- Rio Grande Valley Waterborne Barrier Project: $96 million to BCCG Joint Venture for 17 miles of floating barriers in the Rio Grande River near Brownsville, Texas.
In addition, CBP issued over $550 million in support contracts to assist in Smart Wall construction and related technology deployment.
According to DHS, these projects will advance the administration’s goal of “securing the border through smart, resilient infrastructure,” while creating thousands of construction and technology jobs in border states.
For more information on upcoming projects and locations, DHS directs the public to visit CBP’s Smart Wall webpage for detailed maps and frequently asked questions.
