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San Diego Begins New Border Wall Construction

U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced last month it was planning on constructing nearly 10 miles of a border barrier system in the San Diego sector.

Rachel Acenas

Published: 10/28/2025, 5:13:50 PM EDT

San Diego Begins New Border Wall Construction — A US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Border Patrol vehicle drives past recently installed concertina wire on a section of border wall fencing along the US-Mexico border between San Diego and Tijuana in San Diego on April 24, 2025. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)

Construction began this week on a new section of border wall along the San Diego-Mexico border as part of President Donald Trump's massive crackdown on illegal immigration.

United States Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks on Wednesday touted the progress along the southern border.

"UNSTOPPABLE MOMENTEUM! Installation of heavy steel wall panels went up today in the San [Diego] Sector. This install will fortify a 25-mile stretch of border- tightening security and shutting down criminal pathways," Banks wrote on X.

Earlier this week, Banks shared a brief video on social media showing the work and "progress in action" for the next phase of the wall panel installation.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced last month it was planning on constructing nearly 10 miles of a border barrier system in the San Diego sector.

The project consists of various components to secure the border, according to CBP.

This includes the construction and maintenance of approximately 7.6 miles of primary border barrier and system attributes west of the Tecate Port of Entry, 1.3 miles of primary border barrier and system attributes east of Tecate, and about 0.84 miles of secondary barrier east of the Otay Mesa Port of Entry.

CBP said the project also includes upgrades to 51.5 miles of barrier system, including fiber optic cables, lighting poles, artificial lights, power cables, surveillance cameras, access and patrol roads, and utility shelters along the southwest border where barrier already exists in the San Diego sector.

The funding for construction and upgrades comes from H.R. 1, also known as Trump's Big Beautiful Bill Act, which allocated over $46 billion to support border wall construction and maintenance across the country through 2029.

The federal government used environmental waivers to speed up construction, a move that drew criticism from environmental advocates.

Environmentalists claimed the move violates the National Environmental Policy Act, which requires federal agencies to evaluate the effects of their actions on the environment.

"Waiving environmental, cultural preservation, and good governance laws that protect clean air and clean water, safeguard precious cultural resources, and preserve vibrant ecosystems and biodiversity will only cause further harm to border communities and ecosystems,” Cameron Walkup, an associate legislative representative for Earthjustice, said in a statement.

San Diego, located just 17 miles from Tijuana, Mexico, was previously the busiest corridor for illegal crossings.

According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), border apprehensions nationwide have significantly dropped. Preliminary data for September 2025 shows that Fiscal Year 2025 closed with the lowest U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions since 1970.

"We have had the most secure border in American history and our end of year numbers prove it," DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement. "We have shattered multiple records this year and once again we have broken a new record with the lowest number of Southwest border apprehensions in 55 years."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.