US launches $4.5 billion “smart wall” to reinforce border with Mexico

The United States announced a new phase of border modernization that will combine physical barriers with advanced technology. The project, valued at $4.5 billion, plans to expand the so-called “smart wall” along the border with Mexico, from California to Texas. The initiative seeks to replace obsolete structures and improve surveillance through artificial intelligence and integrated detection systems.

The plan will include 230 miles of steel barriers, more than 400 miles of lighting, patrol roads, water barriers and sensors designed to monitor ground and air movements.

CONTRACTS AND PARTICIPATING COMPANIES

Ten construction and technology companies were selected to execute projects in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. Among the main areas of work are:

• San Diego and El Centro: 27 km of new barriers and 185 km of integrated systems.
• Tucson and Yuma: 80 miles of enhanced walls with aircraft and river crossing detection.
• El Paso: 70 miles of walls and 150 miles of supporting infrastructure.
• Del Rio and Rio Grande Valley: 50 miles of aquatic barriers and sensors along the river.

To accelerate construction, environmental and procurement exemptions were granted in priority areas, with work scheduled to begin in late 2025 and first sections completed in 2027.

SECURITY VS. COMMUNITY IMPACT

The government assures that the “smart wall” represents a technological advance in border security. According to officials, the combination of radars, drones, autonomous towers and sensors will deter criminal activities and improve the response of agents, even in remote terrain.

However, the initiative has generated environmental and social concern. Local communities and human rights defenders point out risks to ecosystems, trade corridors and binational communities.

Analysts recall that the measure is part of a broader effort to modernize ports of entry and streamline customs, in a context where in 2024 cross-border trade will exceed 860 billion dollars.

DHS plans to integrate surveillance data into a “real-time digital map of the border,” allowing it to track movements and optimize security resources.