Texas lawmakers were briefed this week on the state’s ongoing efforts to build a border wall. Officials reported significant strides toward completing a 100-mile section of the wall by 2026.
This state- and public-funded construction work along the border is in lockstep with a federal mandate issued by President Donald Trump on the first day of his second presidency.
An Executive Order issued on January 20 mentioned that one of the first policies to secure the border is establishing “a physical wall and other barriers monitored and supported by adequate personnel and technology.”
Mike Novak, executive director of the Texas Facilities Commission, recently provided an update, announcing that close to 60 miles of the border wall program had been completed. Additional efforts to secure more land for construction are also on track.
Novak said the goal of completing 100 miles of border wall will be met through a combination of newly constructed walls and natural geographic barriers, including lakes and canyons.
The wall’s construction has garnered considerable attention, especially among Republican lawmakers who view it as a key part of their broader strategy to enhance border security. The project championed by the state’s leaders remains a central piece of Texas’ ongoing efforts to address illegal immigration and drug trafficking at the southern border.
According to a report from the New York Post, illegal border crossings have plummeted to their lowest levels in decades following Trump’s immigration crackdown. In February, approximately 359 illegal aliens per day were apprehended along the southern border, marking a more than 90% drop from the same time last year.
This pace puts the U.S. on track for the fewest monthly border crossings in over 25 years. If the trend continues, the number of crossings in the fiscal year could reach the lowest levels seen since 1968.