Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced that the federal government will commence construction on an additional seven miles of border wall in Arizona, signaling a renewed commitment by President Donald Trump’s administration to fortify national security along the southern border. Speaking from the Arizona border, Noem reaffirmed the administration’s dedication to curbing illegal immigration, stating, “As of today, we’re starting seven new miles of construction. We’re going to continue to make America safe again.”
Announcing today – we’re building 7 more miles of wall.
Make America Safe Again! pic.twitter.com/JyVgxrzSZY
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) March 16, 2025
This initiative coincides with a marked decline in illegal border crossings since Trump’s return to office. Data from February indicate that fewer than 8,300 migrant encounters have been recorded at the southwest border since the start of the year, a stark contrast to the figures seen under the previous administration, when monthly crossings routinely surpassed 150,000. Despite this reduction, approximately 50 miles of Arizona’s border remain unfortified, a consequence of President Joe Biden’s decision to halt construction efforts initiated during Trump’s first term, reported The Washington Examiner.
Materials originally designated for border fortifications were placed in storage, resulting in an expenditure of $130,000 per day—an annual cost of $47 million—until the Biden administration opted to liquidate portions of the unused wall through public auctions. Now, according to Trump’s border security adviser, Tom Homan, some of the buyers of these materials have expressed willingness to resell them to the federal government at cost.
In addition to infrastructure expansion, the administration has intensified military support to fortify border security. Earlier this month, the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion of the U.S. Marine Corps installed concertina wire in strategic locations, while the U.S. Army deployed 1,000 troops to reinforce key border regions. The Marine Corps contributed an additional 500 service members, with further deployments anticipated in the coming weeks. Before Trump’s inauguration, approximately 2,500 active-duty personnel were assigned to the border, and the administration is now actively working to restore and enhance these security measures as part of a broader immigration enforcement strategy.
So far, the changes implemented by Trump have been wildly successful. Border crossings have reached the lowest number in decades.
