Fisher Sand and Gravel has been contracted for the downing of the cottonwoods and the widening of the easement along the U.S,/Mexico border. 
Under the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act and the Secure Fence Act, the Department of Homeland Security can bypass private land acquisition to build 30-foot steel bollard walls and 150-foot-wide border patrol roads through eminent domain and legal waivers. 
One of the Freemont cottonwood trees (Populus fremontii) destined for removal to make way for a new border wall across the San Rafael Valley. The wall, like the previous barrier, will cut through Lochiel. 
During the removal of the current wall and downing of cottonwoods, the easement road will remain closed in Lochiel. 
Vegetation on the Mexico side of the border experiences collateral damage as a result of the removal of the current border fencing. 
A Mexican rancher discusses the recycling of barricade metals with government contracted workers. 
Protest signs adorn the original Lochiel customs house on the U.S. side of the border. 
Kate Scott, co-founder of Madrean Archipelago Wildlife Center located in the Chiricahua Mountains, discusses the delicate ecosystem being impacted by the downing of border cottonwoods. 
A banner on the Mexico side of the border details the costs – both financial and environmental – of the border wall.
The Trump administration’s construction of a 30-foot steel bollard border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border has made its way to Lochiel in the San Rafael Valley.
As part of a $309 million contract to build approximately 27 miles of border wall in Santa Cruz County, Fisher Sand and Gravel, a North Dakota-based corporation, has widened the easement along the border and on Tuesday began tearing down the existing fence and wall.
Next, Fisher’s crews will begin removing historic 200-year-old cottonwood trees to make room for the new wall.
The Department of Homeland Security waived dozens of environmental laws to make way for the project.
Further reporting on the construction will be available here in the coming days.