U.S. Customs and Border Protection has instructed federal contractors building portions of the southern border wall in New Mexico to cease drilling new wells, according to a statement released this week. The order follows complaints from cattle ranchers who said ongoing drought conditions have already forced them to reduce herd sizes, and that additional groundwater extraction by construction crews could cause severe economic hardship.
Contractors building the wall have stated that water is necessary for concrete production, road construction, and dust suppression at work sites. A CBP spokesperson indicated the agency would work with state officials and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to develop a groundwater management strategy. The statement said CBP remains committed to collaborating with local landowners to prevent construction from negatively affecting water availability.
New Mexico’s Office of the State Engineer reported discovering eight wells drilled without proper state permits along the southern border, with the possibility of additional unauthorized wells. Staff inspections of two sites in July recorded pumping rates of 200 gallons per minute. State law requires all non-tribal wells in New Mexico to obtain permits before drilling or water extraction, regardless of whether the land is state or federally owned.
The wells in question were drilled on federally controlled property approximately 60 miles north of the border known as the Roosevelt Reservation. CBP did not address inquiries regarding whether federal authority permits groundwater extraction on federal land without state oversight. During Trump’s first term, border wall contractors purchased water from local farms, ranches, and municipalities rather than drilling their own wells.
Two candidates competing for a congressional seat representing the area claimed credit for the drilling moratorium in recent public statements, each asserting they had advocated for the resolution with federal authorities.
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