WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The federal government has awarded 10 construction contracts worth $4.5 billion that will add 230 miles of barrier along the U.S. southwest border, the Department of Homeland Security said on Friday.
The contracts will add hundreds of miles to the border security system called Smart Wall that includes steel barriers, water barriers, patrol roads, lights, cameras and advanced detection technology, according to their statement.
Seven of the 10 contracts, which were awarded in September, were for BCCG Joint Venture, according to the statement from DHS and Customs and Border Protection.
“The Smart Wall means more miles of barriers, more technology and more capacity for our agents on the ground. This is how we take control of the border,” CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott said in the statement.
DHS Secretary Kristin Noem issued two waivers for nine miles of Smart Wall in CBP’s San Diego sector and for approximately 30 miles in New Mexico within the El Paso sector “to eliminate red tape and expedite construction of the Smart Wall,” according to the statement.
It was not immediately clear why the waivers were necessary. These exemptions are sometimes used to circumvent certain environmental or other laws.
(Reporting by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Nick Zieminski)