- Rep. Gabe Vasquez says the effort to protect New Mexico ranchers’ water is not finished.
- Border wall contractors have already drilled high-capacity wells in Luna County.
- Customs and Border Protection told crews to stop drilling new wells but did not stop pumping existing ones.
- Vasquez is asking for an in-person meeting in Luna County with federal and local officials.
- Ranchers depend on scarce groundwater during a severe drought.
Friday, August 7 ,2026 — A dispute over water in southern New Mexico is still simmering. On August 5, 2026, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez
, who represents New Mexico’s second congressional district, pressed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for answers about high-capacity groundwater wells that border wall contractors have already drilled in Luna County. In a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Mullin, he warned that the fight to protect local ranchers’ water rights is far from over.
A Pause on New Wells, but Old Questions Remain.
Vasquez and others had already raised alarms about the drilling. In response, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the agency handling the work, recently told contractors to stop drilling additional wells. Vasquez said that step does not settle the matter. He said the order does not undo the drilling that already happened, does not make clear whether the existing wells will keep being pumped, and does not spell out how much water the larger project will need.
“U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently ordered contractors to stop drilling new wells following concerns raised by my office, ranchers, and stakeholders. However, CBP’s order does not undo the unauthorized drilling that has already occurred, provide clarity around whether the existing wells will continue to be pumped, or provide clarity on how much water will be needed for the broader project,” Vasquez wrote.
He said support for the border and respect for state law can go together.
“My constituents and I support securing our border. But the federal government does not get to disregard state law, threaten private property and water rights, and expect New Mexicans to accept it without protecting their land and resources,” Vasquez said. He added that ranchers, landowners, and local officials remain in the dark while contractors move ahead with a project that could put scarce groundwater at risk during a severe drought.
What Ranchers Want to Know.
Vasquez and local ranchers are asking DHS to answer several questions. They want to know whether contractors will be required to properly cap the existing wells, and how CBP will confirm that it happened. They want to know how much water has already been pumped, and how much more the full project will require. They also want to know whether any additional wells are planned for the future.
Two broader questions round out the list. The ranchers are asking what DHS is doing to make sure contractors follow state law and protect New Mexico’s water and property. They are also asking why DHS is building extensive concrete roads in this rural area, and whether less intrusive border security options were weighed.
A Call for a Face-to-Face Meeting.
After more conversations with ranchers, Vasquez asked for an in-person meeting in Luna County. He wants DHS and CBP officials, affected ranchers and landowners, local officials, the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer, and his own office all at the table.
Ranching leaders backed the request. Tom Paterson, President of the New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association, said families in the region support a secure border but want the work handled with care.
“New Mexico’s ranching families embrace the commitment to a secure border, but the work must be done in a way that respects private property, protects our scarce groundwater resources, and keeps affected landowners informed. Ranchers in Luna and Hidalgo Counties deserve clear answers about the scope of this project and its potential impacts,” Paterson said.
A Longer-Running Dispute.
The latest letter builds on steps Vasquez has taken through the summer. On July 10, he pressed the heads of the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Agriculture for answers, saying border security can be reached “without threatening ranchers, jeopardizing local water supplies, or ignoring the Americans who have stewarded this land for generations.”
On July 22, he carried the issue to the House floor. He said ranching families in the border community have long relied on water from the Mimbres and Hachita Basins to sustain their herds and their way of life.
“And when the feds needed water, they bought it or trucked it in. Then they said, ‘Why buy it, when we can steal it?’ Our ranchers follow the state’s water laws. DHS doesn’t, and it appears they don’t care,” Vasquez said.
