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The awarding of a nearly $1.7 billion contract last week for border wall construction in Hidalgo County was denounced by U.S. Congressman Gabe Vasquez, D-N.M., on Wednesday as a waste of taxpayer dollars.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced the award on Jan. 6, committing $1,679,170,000 to Fisher Sand and Gravel Co., the parent company of Fisher Industries, with headquarters in North Dakota and Arizona. The project specifications include 49 miles of border wall and 60 miles of a secondary barrier with patrol roads, cameras and detection systems referred to as 鈥渟mart wall鈥� technology.

The contract represents a large investment by the Department of Homeland Security in border wall construction in the Bootheel and through some of New Mexico鈥檚 most remote terrain, between Border Monuments 1 and 49 near the southern end of the 3,100-mile Continental Divide National Scenic Trail.

The announcement follows the development last month of a $78.9 million U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contract to Montana-based BFBC LLC, an affiliate of Barnard Construction, to build six miles of border wall near the Antelope Wells Port of Entry. That project is funded through military construction dollars appropriated in the 2023 fiscal year budget, according to the Pentagon.

鈥淭his Bootheel border wall project is the absolute definition of waste and will do nothing to make our country safer,鈥� Vasquez, who represents New Mexico鈥檚 2nd Congressional District spanning the state鈥檚 border with Mexico, said in a written statement. 鈥淭o secure our border without wasting Americans鈥� money, DHS should skip the physical wall and instead invest in smart border security technology like autonomous towers and aerostats that act as an effective force multiplier in these remote areas.鈥�

The wall contract is funded through last year鈥檚 large budget reconciliation bill known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which appropriated $150 billion to DHS, $46.5 billion to CBP for border wall infrastructure and technology, plus $10 billion to assist states and local governments in funding border security and law enforcement. 

Vasquez and other House Democrats representing border districts  over DHS spending and pushed DHS Secretary Kristi Noem for investments in ground- and air-based surveillance technologies, improved search and rescue capabilities and expanded cargo inspections at ports of entry to intercept smuggling of fentanyl and other drugs.

The New Mexico GOP dismissed Vasquez鈥檚 approach and praised President Donald Trump鈥檚 administration for 鈥減rioritizing a safe and secure southern border.鈥�

Party chairwoman Amy Barela said, 鈥淧resident Trump and Secretary Noem鈥檚 efforts on the border have, without question, saved lives, dramatically minimized drug trafficking, and protected Americans from harm. It is no surprise that Rep. Gabe Vazquez has condemned this project, as he routinely criticizes any effort to secure the border, demonizes our ICE officers, and takes issue with President Trump鈥檚 zero-tolerance policy on drug traffickers. This project makes the lives of his constituents safer, but he鈥檚 too consumed in political theater to care.鈥�

Continental Divide Trail Coalition Executive Director Teresa Martinez said the trail鈥檚 southern terminus, located at the foot of the Big Hatchet Mountains in Hidalgo County, 鈥渉as stood as a quiet beacon for travelers along the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail for decades.鈥�

In a written statement, Martinez said the planned projects would transform a space that has long served as 鈥渁 space for appreciation, prayer, and solitude,鈥� adding, 鈥淚t will also create unavoidable barriers for any migrating wildlife and will alter these open spaces for future generations, even among the most vast and remote wild lands of the Continental Divide.鈥�

Algernon D'Ammassa is the Journal's southern New Mexico correspondent. He can be reached at adammassa@abqjournal.com.