In a significant move to accelerate border security efforts, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has issued the first border wall construction waiver under the new administration. The waiver, announced Tuesday, April 8, 2025, in the Federal Register, will enable the swift construction of approximately 2.5 miles of new physical barriers in the San Diego Sector of California.

The waiver applies to projects funded through U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) appropriations from Fiscal Years 2020 and 2021. These include three key construction areas:

• SDC Jacumba Gap Wall Project (~2 miles)
• SDC Smugglers Gulch Wall Project (~350 feet)
• SDC 4 Wall Project (~600 feet and ~1,500 feet)

The barriers will target known gaps in the current infrastructure and are expected to enhance border patrol operations, deter illegal crossings, and reinforce CBP’s ability to respond effectively in high-traffic corridors.

“Acting under President Trump’s Executive Orders, Secretary Noem is taking bold, decisive steps to secure the southern border and achieve full operational control,” DHS stated in its official release.

One of the key components of this accelerated strategy is the use of statutory authority under Section 102 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA), which allows the Secretary of Homeland Security to waive certain legal requirements to expedite construction.

“To cut through bureaucratic delays, DHS is waiving environmental laws — including the National Environmental Policy Act — that can stall vital projects for months or even years,” the department added. “This waiver clears the path for the rapid deployment of physical barriers where they are needed most, reinforcing our commitment to national security and the rule of law.”

The move has drawn both praise and criticism. Supporters argue the new sections of wall will bolster CBP efforts and close longstanding security gaps. Critics, however, say bypassing environmental review processes could lead to long-term ecological harm in sensitive areas near the California-Mexico border.

Despite the controversy, DHS maintains the urgency of the situation justifies the fast-tracking.

“These infrastructure projects are not symbolic,” a CBP spokesperson said. “They are real tools that allow our agents to perform their duties with more efficiency and safety in areas of persistent illegal activity.”

While this waiver marks the first under the new administration, more are expected as part of a broader push to finish priority sections of the wall that had been previously planned but delayed due to environmental reviews and legal challenges.

As the administration pushes forward with its enforcement-centric border strategy, this latest waiver signals a renewed focus on physical deterrents as a key part of U.S. border security policy.

Originally reported by Homeland Security Today.