Key facts
- Border wall construction crews in New Mexico have been ordered to stop drilling new wells.
- Ranchers voiced concerns that pumping groundwater for concrete and dust suppression could deplete supplies during a drought.
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed contractors were instructed to halt drilling new wells.
- The New Mexico Office of the State Engineer reported finding at least six wells drilled without required permits.
Construction crews building a border wall in New Mexico have been ordered to stop drilling new wells following concerns raised by ranchers about potential impacts on groundwater supplies amid a severe drought. The order comes as efforts continue to complete barriers across the southern border, a key priority for the Trump administration that has received over $46 billion in federal funding.
Cattle ranchers in the area stated that pumping groundwater needed to make concrete for roads, wall construction, and dust suppression could threaten their livestock, especially as the drought has already forced them to reduce herd sizes. Russell Johnson, a rancher whose property borders the construction area, noted that an industrial well could pump 300 gallons per minute, significantly more than his own wells which yield three to seven gallons per minute.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed that contractors have been instructed to stop drilling new wells and stated they would collaborate with state and federal agencies on a groundwater strategy. The agency emphasized its commitment to working with local landowners to ensure construction activities do not adversely impact their water needs.
The New Mexico Office of the State Engineer reported that its staff counted eight wells drilled without permission along the southern border, with two of those wells pumping 200 gallons per minute. The office stated that all non-tribal wells in New Mexico require permits from the state engineer before drilling or pumping can occur. These wells were drilled on federally owned land known as the Roosevelt Reservation.
Tom Patterson, president of the New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association, highlighted water scarcity as ranchers' primary concern and noted that during previous border wall construction, contractors purchased water from local sources, which did not increase pumping from nearby basins. Johnson, a former Border Patrol agent who supports the wall, expressed worry about the potential for wells to be pumped and the impact on his livelihood, citing the drought as the main reason he has reduced his herd significantly.