No Borders NewsDHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Rodney Scott visited the southern border in Arizona for a wall tour on October 16, 2026. They observed construction work focused on secondary barriers and met with crews building along the border.
The DHS press release says the administration is continuing barrier construction and supporting technology. It also describes the visit as part of ongoing efforts to improve “operational control” along the southwest border.
According to the release, CBP completed construction of 250 miles of new border barrier along the southwest border since January 20, 2025. It says this total includes primary and secondary barriers, waterborne barriers, and related technology.
The release also points to funding connected to the “Working Families Tax Cut Act,” saying it helped CBP accelerate “Smart Wall” construction. It states that from September 2025 through September 2026, CBP obligated $34.3 billion for Smart Wall projects across southwest border states.
The statement includes claims about border releases and crossing levels, citing CBP data. Because this is a press release, readers who want the underlying figures may want to review the CBP materials referenced by DHS on the official DHS website.