Key facts
- Crews building the border wall in New Mexico were ordered to stop drilling new wells.
- Ranchers expressed concerns that groundwater pumping could threaten livestock during a drought.
- Customs and Border Protection confirmed contractors were instructed to halt drilling.
- The state engineer's office found at least six wells under development 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 that has faced various controversies.
Ranchers, including cattle rancher Russell Johnson, voiced concerns at a public meeting that the unmonitored pumping of border aquifers for concrete production and dust control could jeopardize water needed for livestock and potentially lead to business closures. Johnson highlighted an industrial well planned to pump 300 gallons per minute, significantly more than his own wells which pump between three and seven gallons per minute.
A spokesperson for Customs and Border Protection confirmed that contractors in New Mexico have been instructed to cease drilling new wells and stated the agency is committed to working with local landowners. Previously, CBP has indicated water is necessary for concrete, road construction, and dust control at its sites.
The New Mexico office of the state engineer reported last month that it had identified at least six wells under development along the border, none of which possessed the permits required by state law. The office cautioned that more unpermitted wells could exist and noted that two wells visited in July were pumping 200 gallons per minute, emphasizing that all wells in the state require permits before drilling or water extraction can occur.