U.S. Customs and Border Protection is considering building a new Border Patrol station in Las Cruces as federal officials prepare for an increase in agents and operations in southern New Mexico, according to a letter sent to the City of Las Cruces and first reported by KFOX14.
The proposed facility would sit on a parcel of land between 30 and 40 acres and would be designed to support additional agents and personnel assigned to the U.S. Border Patrol’s El Paso Sector, which includes southern New Mexico. The stated goal of the new station is to increase border security and improve the agency’s ability to apprehend individuals who enter the country illegally.
In a March 4 letter to Las Cruces City Manager Ikani Taumoepeau, Customs and Border Protection said it is preparing an environmental assessment for the potential construction, operation, and maintenance of a new Border Patrol station in Doña Ana County.
“The purpose of the new station is to accommodate the addition of new agents and personnel to increase border security within the U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector,” the letter states, adding that the ultimate objective is “increasing the probability of apprehension of those that have entered the U.S. illegally.”
Federal officials are currently evaluating three possible locations in Las Cruces for the new facility, though specific sites have not yet been finalized. As part of the planning process, CBP is requesting input from state and local agencies regarding environmental impacts, permitting requirements, and other regulatory issues that could affect the project.
CBP officials said they are in the early stages of the process and are currently gathering information from local governments and agencies that may be affected by the project. A public review and comment period is expected to take place later as part of the environmental assessment process.
“The City has received the attached correspondence from CBP requesting comment from local governments… whether there would be an environmental impact to a new CBP facility, should CBP decide to seek one in any of three locations identified in the letter,” the City of Las Cruces said in a statement reported by KFOX14. The city also noted that no final decision has been made and that the project is still in the evaluation phase.
Las Cruces City Councilor Michael Harris said he has already raised concerns about one of the potential sites, particularly a location near Highland Elementary School. Harris said he believes a more remote site would be more appropriate, citing environmental concerns and the number of vehicles that typically operate out of Border Patrol facilities.
He also noted that choosing a location away from residential areas, schools, and churches would allow more room for expansion if the facility grows in the future.
The potential new station comes as federal officials prepare for increased border enforcement activity in the El Paso Sector, which covers far West Texas and southern New Mexico, including Doña Ana County and surrounding areas.
If built, the facility would likely bring additional federal agents, support staff, and infrastructure to the Las Cruces area, potentially bringing economic activity as well as renewed debate over border security and federal presence in southern New Mexico.
For now, the project remains in the environmental review stage, and federal officials are asking local agencies to provide input within 30 days so potential environmental impacts can be evaluated before any final site is selected.
A formal public comment period is expected to take place later as part of the environmental assessment process before any construction moves forward.