The Trump administration announced that 250 miles of new border wall had been completed along the southwest border in fiscal 2026, which the Department of Homeland Security reported as the year with the lowest number of border crossings in U.S. history.
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott toured ongoing construction in Arizona on Thursday, observing work on secondary barriers along the southern border. The construction includes primary and secondary barriers, waterborne barriers, and supporting technology, according to DHS.
The administration is using funding from the Working Families Tax Cut Act to accelerate what it calls Smart Wall construction. CBP obligated $34.3 billion to Smart Wall projects across all southwest border states from September 2025 through September 2026.
The administration reported that 17 months had passed without releasing migrants apprehended at the southern border.