Texas border wall construction site illustrating funding challenges and incomplete areas.
In a surprising decision, Texas has stopped funding for the construction of its U.S.-Mexico border wall, deviating from Governor Greg Abbott’s plans. The state has only completed 65 miles of the proposed 805-mile wall, costing taxpayers over $3 billion. The new budget focuses on supporting immigration initiatives through the Texas Department of Public Safety instead of new wall projects. Critics express concern over ineffective wall sections and potential environmental impacts, as federal border wall construction efforts ramp up. This shift marks a notable change in Texas’s approach to border security amid ongoing federal initiatives.
In a surprising turn of events, Texas has halted funding for the new construction of its U.S.-Mexico border wall. This decision, made in the final hours of the legislative session, came without prior public debate or discussion.
To date, only 65 miles of the proposed 805 miles of border wall have been completed in Texas, at a staggering cost of over $3 billion to taxpayers. The new budget introduced this month does not include any additional funds for continued wall construction, which had been a significant priority for Governor Greg Abbott.
In the budget approved earlier this month, approximately $3.4 billion has been allocated for border security over the next two years. However, this funding is mainly directed toward the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas National Guard, with no provisions for initiating new wall projects. Instead, the funds will support ongoing operations associated with the state’s immigration initiative, Operation Lone Star.
Most of the border wall that has been constructed primarily covers regions around Brownsville and El Paso. The Texas Facilities Commission had previously expressed intentions to complete at least 100 miles of wall by the end of 2026, but with the new budget cuts, only enough funding remains to finish an additional 18 miles of wall.
Governor Abbott has attributed the cessation of funding to the observable success of federal border security efforts during the Trump administration, which dramatically decreased illegal border crossings. A recent report highlights an impressive 93% decrease in encounters with individuals attempting to cross the southwest border between May 2024 and May 2025.
Experts in border security have pointed out noteworthy concerns regarding the existing wall. They have indicated that there are significant gaps allowing for unlawful crossings, especially in rural areas where local landowners have resisted construction. Currently, only 8% of the wall construction identified by Texas has been completed, with most segments placed far from areas that experience high instances of illegal crossing.
While lawmakers have stated that ongoing wall segments will continue, new projects are stalled due to the restricted funding. The estimated construction costs for the border wall stand at around $28 million per mile. Critics, including various environmental groups, argue that the wall is not only ineffective but also detrimental to local communities and landscapes.
In the meantime, the federal government is taking steps to resume border wall construction. Recently, a new federal waiver was signed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary aimed at fast-tracking an additional 17 miles of wall construction in South Texas. This move is intended to revive projects that had been on hold. Funded by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection via its Fiscal Year 2021 appropriations, these federal projects focus on the Rio Grande Valley Sector.
Moreover, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has recently awarded a contract to Fisher Sand & Gravel Co. amounting to $309 million for the construction of approximately 27 miles of new border wall in Arizona, showcasing a renewed effort at the federal level to bolster border security.
The halt in Texas’s funding for new border wall projects marks a significant shift in the state’s approach to border security. With ongoing federal efforts and a changing landscape of immigration control, the future of border wall construction remains uncertain.
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