Trump administration halts border wall well drilling in New Mexico after rancher protests

The Trump administration has ordered construction crews building the border wall in New Mexico to stop drilling wells for groundwater. The decision follows complaints from cattle ranchers that pumping water to make concrete could threaten their livestock during a severe drought.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which oversees the project, said it would collaborate with New Mexico and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to develop a groundwater strategy. The agency did not clarify whether existing wells, already drilled, would be pumped. Federal contractors involved in the project did not respond to requests for comment.

The New Mexico Office of the State Engineer reported that eight wells were drilled without state permits along the southern border. Staff visited two of the wells in July and found they were pumping 200 gallons per minute. The state agency said all non-tribal wells in New Mexico require permits before drilling or pumping.

Rancher Russell Johnson, whose property borders the construction site, said an industrial well near his land was reported to pump 300 gallons per minute. Johnson, who has reduced his herd to a third of its original size due to drought, said the well could force ranchers out of business. Tom Patterson, president of the New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association, said water scarcity is the top concern for ranchers in the region.

The seven left-rated digests led on the rancher protests and the threat to livestock. The Associated Press, whose full report was carried by several outlets, included quotes from ranchers Russell Johnson and Tom Patterson, detailing the impact on their herds. It also reported the number of wells drilled without permits and the state engineer’s statement that all wells require state approval. The left-rated reports named the federal contractors involved and noted their lack of response.

The Associated Press report, carried by left-rated outlets, quoted Johnson: “It would put us in an immediate catastrophe and having to do something with our livestock. I mean, it could potentially put some people out of business, us included.” The report also included the state engineer’s statement that wells were drilled illegally on federal land without state oversight.

The six centre-rated digests led on the federal order to halt drilling and the collaboration between CBP, New Mexico, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. WPLG, whose full report was carried by some outlets, included the same details as the Associated Press on the rancher protests and the number of wells drilled without permits. The centre-rated digests also noted the drought’s impact on ranchers but did not quote Johnson or Patterson directly.

The centre-rated digests did not include the state engineer’s statement that wells were drilled illegally, nor did they mention the federal contractors’ lack of response. The WPLG report, however, carried the same details as the Associated Press on the moratorium and the collaboration with state and federal agencies.

The single right-rated digest, from the Washington Times, led on the Trump administration’s order to stop drilling. It carried the rancher protests and the threat to livestock but did not mention the number of wells drilled without permits, the state engineer’s statement, or the collaboration with New Mexico and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

None of the centre-rated digests mentioned the state engineer’s statement that wells were drilled without state permits. The right-rated digest did not report the number of wells drilled illegally or the collaboration between CBP, New Mexico, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Washington Times also omitted the federal contractors’ lack of response to requests for comment.