Engineers place final barrier panel at NDA-1

ANTELOPE WELLS, N.M. — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers South Pacific Border Task Force engineers performed final panel placement at National Defense Area 1 (NDA-1) July 17 in Hidalgo County, New Mexico.

The placement signals a major construction milestone for the Smart Wall border barrier system. The president determined that military construction of permanent border barrier on the New Mexico NDA, NDA-1, is vital to national security.

“This emergency military construction project ultimately contributes to the United States gaining operational control of its Southern Border,” said Col. Andrew C. Sinelli, commander of the South Pacific Border Task Force.

Construction of permanent border barrier on the New Mexico NDA will help close existing gaps and increase the mobility and operational flexibility of Department of War service members on the Southern Border. The project ties into a mountain to the east and will tie into future Department of Homeland Security projects. The access roads will facilitate the movement of joint patrols.

On Jan. 20, 2025, the president declared a national emergency on the Southern Border that would require the use of the armed forces. On April 11, 2025, the president directed the secretary of War, the secretary of the Interior, the secretary of Agriculture, and the secretary of Homeland Security to support securing operational control of the Southern Border through the establishment of National Defense Areas.

USACE support to permanent border barrier construction started in the late 1990s with design, real estate and environmental support to troop deployments through JTF-Six (later JTF-North) and progressed to more robust contracted design and construction efforts in 2008 and beyond. From 2017 to 2020, USACE awarded multiple contracts for border barrier construction totaling more than $10 billion under DHS and DOW authorities and appropriations.

The total mileage installed by USACE South Pacific Division from 2019 to now is 367.24 miles. The Antelope Wells project consists of about six miles along the border of the U.S. and Mexico (west of Antelope Wells, New Mexico) installing new, permanent 30-foot steel bollard border barrier with anti-climb plating and vehicular/access gates. Construction also includes patrol roads. The total cost of this emergency military construction is about $79 million.

“Though a significant milestone was achieved with the final border panel placement, several critical ancillaries are underway and should be completed in several weeks,” said Project Manager Mike Tuttle. “Providing services to support permanent border barrier construction aligns with the USACE mission of delivering vital engineering solutions, with our partners, to secure our nation, strengthen our economy and reduce disaster risks.”

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