by Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Staff
WASHINGTON D.C. (Worthy News) – Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Wednesday approved a new environmental waiver to advance construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall, as President Donald Trump’s administration intensifies efforts to secure the southern border and drive down illegal immigration.
The latest waiver — the fifth issued since Noem took the helm of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) — will facilitate the building of 17 miles of border wall in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley sector. The move is part of a broader push to close gaps along the border, with additional projects underway in Arizona, California, and New Mexico.
The action comes as illegal border crossings have slowed dramatically. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced Tuesday that no illegal migrants were released into the U.S. interior in May, a stark contrast to May 2024, when 62,000 were released.
In addition to the Texas project, CBP awarded Fisher Sand & Gravel Co. a contract exceeding $300 million to construct 27 miles of border wall near Tucson, Arizona, according to reports by Fox News. Noem also approved an April waiver that accelerated wall construction along California’s border with Mexico.
The waivers support one of President Trump’s signature promises: to restart border wall construction and launch mass deportations. Early data suggests these measures are having a significant impact.
A recent analysis by the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), using Census Bureau data, found that the illegal immigrant population has declined by nearly a million since President Trump took office in January. Steven A. Camarota, CIS research director, estimates the number of illegal immigrants has dropped from 15.8 million in January to 14.8 million in May.
“It looks like there’s been a Trump effect on the number of illegal immigrants in the country, based on the best data that we have,” Camarota said.
The administration’s aggressive enforcement includes ramped-up arrests and encouragement for voluntary departures. Deportation officers, no longer bound by Biden-era restrictions, are pursuing removals at levels not seen in modern times.
Business groups and agricultural interests have expressed concern, warning that labor shortages, particularly in farming, could disrupt industries dependent on illegal immigrant workers. But Camarota argued the trend offers opportunities for American workers, especially those without college degrees.
“This is good news particularly for less-educated Americans who are likely to see a rise in wages,” he said.
Social Security’s latest projections echo the recent immigration shift, showing a decline in arrivals and net stays. The agency reported that in 2023, about 2.6 million migrants arrived, with 1.8 million staying. This year, it expects 2 million arrivals, with 1.2 million remaining — a significant drop compared to prior years.
With border wall projects and enforcement intensifying, the administration has signaled that efforts to curb illegal immigration will remain a top priority in the months ahead.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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