Contractors building border wall ordered to stop drilling wells in drought-stricken New Mexico

The Trump administration has instructed construction crews working on a border wall to cease drilling wells in drought-stricken New Mexico, following complaints from ranchers about potential harm to their livestock. This comes as crews across the southern border rush to complete President Donald Trump's much-discussed domestic project - a barrier stretching across four states, funded with over $46 billion in federal money.

Issues have surfaced in Texas and California, as well, with border-town residents and environmentalists reporting various problems with construction. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, responsible for overseeing the wall's construction, maintains that water is necessary to produce concrete for roads, walls, and dust suppression.

Ranchers in the region, grappling with the ongoing drought, have reported having to cut their herd numbers. Russell Johnson, a cattle rancher whose land lies along the border, brought up the matter at a public meeting in July, after spotting an industrial well that was set to pump 300 gallons per minute. Johnson's ranch features roughly 12 wells, each contributing between three and seven gallons per minute.

A CBP spokesperson announced on Monday that border wall contractors in New Mexico have been directed to halt new well drilling, but did not clarify if existing wells could still be utilized. The agency stated they would work alongside New Mexico and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to devise a groundwater strategy.