New border wall construction in southwest Arizona could fracture key habitat for jaguars and other endangered species, says a report released Monday.
The San Rafael Valley, a grassland basin in Arizona’s southern borderlands, is a vital wildlife corridor for the elusive jaguar, according to the analysis by the Center for Biological Diversity, an environmental group. The valley is also the prime location targeted by the Trump administration for accelerated build-out of new sections of wall, which are meant to keep undocumented immigrants from crossing into the United States from Mexico.
In June, the Department of Homeland Security awarded a $309 million contract to Fisher Sand & Gravel to build 27 miles of border wall near Tucson. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem issued three environmental waivers to hasten construction, allowing the projects to bypass laws like the National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act and Clean Water Act.
DHS said in a news release that projects done under waivers are “critical steps” to secure the southern border.
