The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers South Pacific Border Task Force installs the final border barrier panel at the National Defense Area One, or NDA-1, project site July 17 near Antelope Wells, New Mexico. The NDA-1 project consists of installation of up to six miles of new permanent border barrier with access gates, patrol roadways and access improvements. USACE is installing border barriers along the southern border of the U.S. at the direction of the U.S. Army by the Secretary of War, in response to the presidential national emergency declaration dated Jan. 20, 2025, authorizing the use of Section 2808 of Title 10, U.S. Code. (No one in this image crossed the international border) (Photo by Robert DeDeaux USACE PAO)
National Security Infrastructure: USACE Engineers Place Final Border Panel at New Mexico NDA-1
USACE NDA-1 Border Barrier Panel Placement: Engineers with the USACE South Pacific Border Task Force executed final Smart Wall panel placement at National Defense Area 1 in Hidalgo County, New Mexico.
Emergency Military Construction: The $79 million project covers approximately six miles of border near Antelope Wells, New Mexico, closing operational gaps to enhance Southern Border control.
Structural Engineering Parameters: Installs 30-foot steel bollard barrier with anti-climb plating, vehicular/access gates, and military patrol roads.
Historical Mileage Scale: Marks part of 367.24 total miles of border barrier installed by USACE South Pacific Division since 2019 under joint Department of War and DHS authorities.
Ancillary Completion: Project Manager Mike Tuttle confirmed that remaining secondary infrastructure and access road ancillaries will wrap up in the coming weeks.
Editor’s Note: The following is an update from the USACE South Pacific Border Task Force, curated by America’s Engineers for commercial contractor and industry visibility. The original report can be found at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers news repository.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers South Pacific Border Task Force engineers performed final panel placement at National Defense Area 1 (NDA-1) July 17 in Hidalgo County, New Mexico.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers South Pacific Border Task Force completed border barrier installation at the National Defense Area One, or NDA-1, project site July 17 near Antelope Wells, New Mexico. The NDA-1 project consists of approximately six miles of new permanent border barrier with access gates, patrol roadways, and access improvements through the Roosevelt Reservation Corridor in Hidalgo County. USACE is installing border barriers along the southern border of the U.S. at the direction of the U.S. Army by the Secretary of War, in response to the presidential national emergency declaration dated Jan. 20, 2025, authorizing the use of Section 2808 of Title 10, U.S. Code. (No one in this image crossed the international border) (Photo by Robert DeDeaux USACE PAO)
The placement signals a major construction milestone for the Smart Wall border barrier system. The president determined that military construction of permanent border barrier on the New Mexico NDA, NDA-1, is vital to national security.
“This emergency military construction project ultimately contributes to the United States gaining operational control of its Southern Border,” said Col. Andrew C. Sinelli, commander of the South Pacific Border Task Force.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Mike Tuttle, a project manager assigned to the South Pacific Border Task Force, records the final panel installation at the National Defense Area One, or NDA-1, project site July 17 Antelope Wells, New Mexico. USACE is installing border barriers along the southern border of the U.S. at the direction of the U.S. Army by the Secretary of War, in response to the presidential national emergency declaration dated Jan. 20, 2025, authorizing the use of Section 2808 of Title 10, U.S. Code. (No one in this image crossed the international border) (Photo by Robert DeDeaux USACE PAO)
Construction of permanent border barrier on the New Mexico NDA will help close existing gaps and increase the mobility and operational flexibility of Department of War service members on the Southern Border. The project ties into a mountain to the east and will tie into future Department of Homeland Security projects. The access roads will facilitate the movement of joint patrols.
On Jan. 20, 2025, the president declared a national emergency on the Southern Border that would require the use of the armed forces. On April 11, 2025, the president directed the secretary of War, the secretary of the Interior, the secretary of Agriculture, and the secretary of Homeland Security to support securing operational control of the Southern Border through the establishment of National Defense Areas.
USACE support to permanent border barrier construction started in the late 1990s with design, real estate and environmental support to troop deployments through JTF-Six (later JTF-North) and progressed to more robust contracted design and construction efforts in 2008 and beyond. From 2017 to 2020, USACE awarded multiple contracts for border barrier construction totaling more than $10 billion under DHS and DOW authorities and appropriations.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers South Pacific Border Task Force installs the final border barrier panel at the National Defense Area One, or NDA-1, project site July 17 near Antelope Wells, New Mexico. The NDA-1 project consists of installation of up to six miles of new permanent border barrier with access gates, patrol roadways and access improvements. USACE is installing border barriers along the southern border of the U.S. at the direction of the U.S. Army by the Secretary of War, in response to the presidential national emergency declaration dated Jan. 20, 2025, authorizing the use of Section 2808 of Title 10, U.S. Code. (No one in this image crossed the international border) (Photo by Robert DeDeaux USACE PAO)
The total mileage installed by USACE South Pacific Division from 2019 to now is 367.24 miles. The Antelope Wells project consists of about six miles along the border of the U.S. and Mexico (west of Antelope Wells, New Mexico) installing new, permanent 30-foot steel bollard border barrier with anti-climb plating and vehicular/access gates. Construction also includes patrol roads. The total cost of this emergency military construction is about $79 million.
“Though a significant milestone was achieved with the final border panel placement, several critical ancillaries are underway and should be completed in several weeks,” said Project Manager Mike Tuttle. “Providing services to support permanent border barrier construction aligns with the USACE mission of delivering vital engineering solutions, with our partners, to secure our nation, strengthen our economy and reduce disaster risks.”
This article was originally published by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under the title, “Engineers place final barrier panel at NDA-1.” Reposted with permission.
