DHS chief announces next steps for border wall as admin delivers on promises

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem announced the building of seven miles of new border wall in Arizona as part of the administration’s efforts to “make America safe again.”

Noem’s announcement, coming in a short video posted to her X account, marks the beginning of additional border wall construction along the southern border during the second Trump administration. The DHS said in a press release Friday that U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) had awarded the first contract of President Donald Trump’s second term to Granite Construction Co. for more than $70 million, which will result in seven miles of new border wall in the Rio Grande Valley Sector, according to Noem’s announcement.

“Everybody, I’m here in Arizona, and right at this spot, you can see where the border wall ends,” Noem said while standing along the border, donning a CBP hat and jacket. “As of today, we’re starting 7 new miles of construction, we’re going to continue to make America safe again.”

VETS GROUP PATCHING BORDER FENCE PLEDGES VIGILANCE AMID TRUMP SUCCESS: ‘THERE ARE STILL GAPS’

The new wall will be paid for via CBP’s Fiscal Year 2021 funds, per DHS.

Trump’s predecessor, former President Joe Biden, moved on his first day in office to halt all border wall construction along the U.S.-Mexico border. In late 2023, construction on roughly 20 miles of border barriers in South Texas was allowed to commence under Biden, since the money had already been appropriated by Congress during Trump’s first administration.

Under Trump’s first term, approximately 458 miles of primary and secondary barriers were built, per CBP data. This included parts of the current wall that were dilapidated and needed to be replaced. 

SANCTUARY CITY LAWYERS PLOT TO HELP ILLEGAL MIGRANTS EVADE ICE IN EXPOSED GROUP EMAIL

Vice President JD Vance said earlier this month during a visit to the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas that he was under the belief that Trump was hoping to build a wall across every mile of the southern border by the end of his term in 2029. 

“I think the president’s hope is that by the end of the term we build the entire border wall,” the vice president told reporters during a press conference.

“And, of course, that’s the physical structure — the border wall itself — but we even heard today, there are so many good technological tools, so many great artificial intelligence-enabled technologies” that can also be used to secure the border, Vance added.

CALIFORNIA EXPLOITING MEDICAID ‘LOOPHOLE’ TO PAY BILLIONS FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS’ HEALTHCARE, STUDY SAYS

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The number of illegal migrant “gotaways,” or the number of successful illegal crossings, which are recorded using cameras and other surveillance methods, has dropped as much as 90% since Trump took office, according to some estimates based on numbers reported by Fox News’ Bill Melugin last week. 

According to the numbers reported by Melugin, border agents have been spotting an average of 77 “gotaways” per day, while during the height of the immigration crisis under Biden, that number reached as much as 1,800 per day, according to reports. 

Trump says Biden’s pardons are now ‘void and vacant’ after autopen controversy

President Donald Trump claimed that former President Joe Biden’s pardons of lawmakers who served on the House Select Committee to investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, and others, are “VOID,” alleging that they had been signed via an autopen and that Biden did not even know about them.

“The ‘Pardons’ that Sleepy Joe Biden gave to the Unselect Committee of Political Thugs, and many others, are hereby declared VOID, VACANT, AND OF NO FURTHER FORCE OR EFFECT, because of the fact that they were done by Autopen,” Trump claimed in a Truth Social post.

“In other words, Joe Biden did not sign them but, more importantly, he did not know anything about them! The necessary Pardoning Documents were not explained to, or approved by, Biden. He knew nothing about them, and the people that did may have committed a crime,” Trump added.

TRUMP TAKES JAB AT BIDEN OVER ‘AUTOPEN SIGNATURE’ FOLLOWING CONCERNING REPORT OVER WHO RAN THE WHITE HOUSE

The president continued in his post, “Therefore, those on the Unselect Committee, who destroyed and deleted ALL evidence obtained during their two year Witch Hunt of me, and many other innocent people, should fully understand that they are subject to investigation at the highest level. The fact is, they were probably responsible for the Documents that were signed on their behalf without the knowledge or consent of the Worst President in the History of our Country, Crooked Joe Biden!”

While aboard Air Force One on Sunday night, Trump was asked whether executive orders and pardons signed by Biden via an autopen are void. 

“I think so. It’s not my decision. That would be up to a court,” Trump replied.

BIDEN’S ‘AUTOPEN SIGNATURE’ APPEARS ON MOST OFFICIAL DOCS, RAISING CONCERNS OVER WHO CONTROLLED THE WH: REPORT

Trump’s comments come after the Heritage Foundation’s Oversight Project suggested that an autopen had been heavily used during Biden’s White House tenure.

“We gathered every document we could find with Biden’s signature over the course of his presidency. All used the same autopen signature except for the announcement that the former President was dropping out of the race last year. Here is the autopen signature,” the Oversight Project declared in a post on X earlier this month.

TRUMP UNDOES STACK OF ‘HARMFUL’ BIDEN EXECUTIVE ORDERS, SHRINKS MULTIPLE AGENCIES

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

In a statement on Jan. 20, the same day he departed from office, Biden announced that he was pardoning “General Mark A. Milley, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the Members of Congress and staff who served on the Select Committee, and the U.S. Capitol and D.C. Metropolitan police officers who testified before the Select Committee.” 

“These public servants have served our nation with honor and distinction and do not deserve to be the targets of unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions,” he noted.

Fox News Digital has reached out to a Biden spokesperson for comment.

Iranian general responds after Trump warns terrorists ‘hell will rain down’

An Iranian general vowed to respond “decisively and destructively” to any threats after President Donald Trump said he ordered American forces to launch military action against Houthis in Yemen.

“We warn our enemies that Iran will respond decisively and destructively if they carry out their threats,” Gen. Hossein Salami, the leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, told state media following U.S. strikes over the weekend against the Tehran-backed terrorist group, according to Reuters. 

“We are not a nation to live in hiding. We are a valid and legitimate system in the world. We announce it if we attack anywhere,” Salami was quoted as saying by ABC News. 

U.S. Central Command said Saturday it had “initiated a series of operations consisting of precision strikes against Iran-backed Houthi targets across Yemen to defend American interests, deter enemies, and restore freedom of navigation.”  

US MILITARY SHOOTS DOWN HOUTHI DRONES AS TRUMP’S STRIKES AGAINST TERRORIST GROUP CONTINUE 

Trump wrote on Truth Social Saturday that he “ordered the United States Military to launch decisive and powerful Military action against the Houthi terrorists in Yemen.” 

“It has been over a year since a U.S.-flagged commercial ship safely sailed through the Suez Canal, the Red Sea, or the Gulf of Aden,” Trump continued. “The last American Warship to go through the Red Sea, four months ago, was attacked by the Houthis over a dozen times.” 

Trump wrote that the “relentless assaults have cost the U.S. and World Economy many BILLIONS of Dollars while, at the same time, putting innocent lives at risk.” 

“To all Houthi terrorists, YOUR TIME IS UP, AND YOUR ATTACKS MUST STOP, STARTING TODAY. IF THEY DON’T, HELL WILL RAIN DOWN UPON YOU LIKE NOTHING YOU HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE!” his post concluded. 

The large-scale campaign against Houthi targets in Yemen will be “unrelenting” until the Iran-backed proxies pledge to back off U.S. assets, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Fox News on Sunday. 

HEGSETH DECLARES ‘PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH IS BACK’ WHILE VOWING ‘UNRELENTING’ CAMPAIGN AGAINST HOUTHI TARGETS 

“The minute the Houthis say ‘we’ll stop shooting at your ships, we’ll stop shooting at your drones,’ this campaign will end, but until then, it will be unrelenting,” he told “Sunday Morning Futures” host Maria Bartiromo. 

The Houthis are claiming the recent U.S. strikes have killed at least 53 people and injured around 100, according to the Associated Press. 

“We will confront escalation with escalation,” the leader of the Houthis, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, reportedly said Sunday. 

“We will respond to the American enemy in its raids, in its attacks, with missile strikes, by targeting its aircraft carrier, its warships, its ships,” al-Houthi added. “However, we also still have escalation options. If it continues its aggression, we will move to additional escalation options.” 

U.S. warships have shot down roughly a dozen Houthi drones since Saturday, Fox News has learned. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP 

A senior defense official told Fox News of the developments on Sunday. The drones were aimed at the U.S. Navy’s Truman Carrier Strike Group and were shot down “well before” they posed a serious threat, the official said. 

Schumer responds to colleagues’ bashing tour and possible AOC showdown

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer dismissed the possibility of a primary challenge from progressive lawmaker Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., in an interview following his controversial support for a Republican spending bill. 

“That’s a long time away,” Schumer told The New York Times in an interview when asked about reports that Democratic lawmakers have privately encouraged Ocasio-Cortez to run against him for New York’s U.S. Senate seat in 2028.

Ocasio-Cortez has emerged as one of the leading voices in the Democratic Party critical of Schumer for supporting the House-passed funding measure to avoid a government shutdown.

‘BIG WIN’: TRUMP TOUTS FEDERAL FUNDING BILL PASSAGE IN THE HOUSE

“I am focused on bringing Trump’s numbers down, his popularity down, exposing what he has done to America and what he will do,” Schumer said. “That’s my focus right now. You know, three years from now is a long way to speculate. I believe that my hard work against Trump will pay off,” he added. 

In a display of the rifts among Democrats over the spending bill, Ocasio-Cortez told CNN host Jake Tapper on Thursday that Schumer effectively allowed Republicans and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to take priority over their base. 

“I believe that’s a tremendous mistake,” she told Tapper.  

AOC SLAMS SCHUMER FOR ‘TREMENDOUS MISTAKE’ OF CAVING TO GOP TO AVOID GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

Schumer announced his vote for the short-term spending bill, or continuing resolution (CR), on Thursday evening, stating that though he believes the “bill is very bad, the potential for a shutdown has consequences for America that are much, much worse.”

In a column for MSNBC, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., also criticized the CR, stating it “gives Elon Musk and President Donald Trump even more flexibility to steal from the middle class, from seniors, from veterans, from working people, from small businesses and from farmers, all to pay for tax breaks for billionaires.”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP 

Schumer’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.  

Five years since toilet paper mania: The wildest ‘Stop-the-Spread’ moments

As the U.S. nears the five-year mark since nationwide lockdowns turned toilet paper into a hot commodity, Fox News Digital took a look back at some of the most controversial mandates – those that sparked debate – and, to some, defied logic.

1. FAUCI’S CONTRADICTIONS

Former NIAID Director Anthony Fauci was a ubiquitous sight throughout the pandemic, during the administrations of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden. 

The octogenarian allergist, who had been with the government since 1968 and appointed head of the NIH’s infectious disease arm by former President Ronald Reagan, was often lambasted for contradictory or questionable medical orders.

Fauci drew heat for apparent contradictions in mask-wearing orders, with critics often locking onto the certainty with which the Brooklynite announced each countervailing development.

In March 2020, Fauci told “60 Minutes” about “unintended consequences” of wearing masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19. 

“People keep fiddling with the mask and they keep touching their face,” he said, suggesting germs and viruses could be spread by too much fidgeting.

Soon after, and for most of the rest of the pandemic, Fauci was adamant that Americans must wear masks nearly at all times in public. 

He raised eyebrows further when he told CNBC it might be time to double up on masks – a stance that clashed with claims from right-wing physicians who warned that excessive face coverings could obstruct breathing.

‘CUOMO CHIP’ LOOPHOLE CRUMBLES AS NY NOW WANTS ‘SUBSTANTIAL FOOD’ SOLD WITH BOOZE

“If you have a physical covering with one layer, you put another layer on it just makes common sense that it likely would be more effective,” Fauci said.

National Review writer David Harsanyi balked at the order at the time, quipping, “No, thanks, Dad.”

Current Secretary of State Marco Rubio also commented at the time about Fauci’s varied orders:

“Dr. Fauci is a very good public-health official. His job is to advise policymakers and inform the public, but his job is not to decide what we can do, where we can go or which places can open or close. His job is not to mislead or scare us into doing the [supposed] right things,” the Floridian said.

Pennsylvania’s most visible shutdown-opposing lawmaker, who later ran for governor on a related “Walk as Free People” slogan, regularly quipped in public remarks at people he would see driving alone in their cars on Interstate 81 while wearing a mask.

“You can’t make this stuff up,” Sen. Doug Mastriano often repeated.

2. WING NUTS 

New York City is known for its pizza, bagels, heros and chopped cheese – but western New York holds another food item just as dear – the Buffalo wing.

The COVID-19 lockdowns proved the love upstaters have for their chicken apps after then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo laid out what “substantive food” a watering hole has to offer in order for patrons to go out for a drink.

“To be a bar, you have to have food available. Soups, sandwiches – More than just hors d’oeuvres, chicken wings; you had to have some substantive food,” he said. 

New Yorkers used to sloshing Frank’s Red Hot on their chicken became Red Hot themselves and lambasted the governor for appearing to define their beloved dish as less than a meal.

The outrage led to a New York state communications official later tweeting a diagrammed-sentence breakdown of Cuomo’s comments, seeking to illustrate that the clause “more than just hors d’oeuvres” was an interjection and that “chicken wings” were to be associated with the “soups, sandwiches” mentioned – but the damage had been done.

In return, bars began charging a dollar or so each for a slice of deli meat, a handful of croutons or a single french fry in order to allow their patrons an end-round around the edict and have a cold one.

PENNSYLVANIA GOV. TOM WOLF THREATENS TO WITHHOLD CORONAVIRUS AID TO COUNTIES THAT DEFY LOCKDOWN ORDERS

In neighboring Pennsylvania, Gov. Tom Wolf instituted a similar ban – requiring a meal to be purchased before alcohol could be served. The state police’s bureau of liquor enforcement patrolled towns to enforce the mandate and other regulations, warning small-town saloons that their liquor licenses were on the line.

When many restaurants were closed for eat-in dining in Pennsylvania, several lawmakers held a demonstration in Lebanon outside what was then the Taste of Sicily Italian Restaurant.

Several area lawmakers – state Reps. Russ Diamond, Frank Ryan and the late Dave Arnold – joined Mastriano and restaurant manager Mike Mangano to decry “stop the spread” orders that cut off family restaurants’ income.

Flanked by the others, Diamond read from Article I Sec. 2 of the Pennsylvania Constitution, which stated “all power is inherent in the people… and they have at all times an inalienable… right to alter, reform or abolish their government in such matter they see fit.”

“That means,” he said, “You can exercise your constitutional right to abolish the interminable b—- of this government, which happens to be the governor’s obtuse, stupid and bass-ackward orders.”

3. SUNDAY DRIVERS BEWARE

In Pennsylvania, Wolf and Health Secretary Rachel Levine were ubiquitous on the airwaves with their lockdown provisions and orders – from traffic-light color-coded maps instructing which counties’ residents could have varying levels of freedom, to Levine’s daily warning on TV to “stay home, stay calm, stay safe.”

Early in the shutdown period, the Wolf administration utilized a seven-decade-old state law aimed at blunting a syphilis outbreak as legal backing for some of their orders.

In April 2020, a York woman was charged under that statute when she tried to quell her cabin fever with a Sunday drive.

Anita Shaffer told local media at the time she had been returning home from a drive when she passed police parked in the town of Yoe. 

Originally stopped for a broken taillight, Shaffer was ultimately issued a $202 ticket for violating the Disease Prevention and Control Act of 1955, which was described to her as the “stay-at-home-act” in force at the time – to which she pleaded “not guilty.”

PENNSYLVANIA LAWMAKER SLAMS PA COVID LOCKDOWNS AS ‘KEYSTONE KOPS’

Current Pennsylvania Attorney General David Sunday – a Republican who was then York County’s district attorney – later expressed opposition to the state’s lockdown orders and told the York Daily Record he wouldn’t prosecute businesses Wolf’s classifications deemed “nonessential” if they opened before Harrisburg said so.

Police said after the incident: “Sunday drives are not essential travel.”

Drivers on the state’s highways also encountered other unique COVID order roadblocks.

Mastriano spoke at several demonstrations in Harrisburg, Lancaster and beyond, and recounted some such experiences.

Pennsylvania rest areas were briefly closed to “stop the spread,” he noted, adding how incredulous it was to come upon an Interstate 81 rest area on his commute, see it barricaded closed, and then see several big-rigs parked dangerously close to traffic on the shoulder in a line for the ensuing mile.

Republicans in Pennsylvania later drafted a constitutional amendment ballot initiative seeking to claw back some of the restrictions. Some proponents cited what they called a biblical irony in the randomly-assigned bill number – SB 836 – which echoed John 8:36’s admonition “If Christ sets you free, you are free indeed.”

4. NO PARK-ING

Another stop-the-spread order that led to public outcry affected children more than those of-age to travel or drink.

Cities from California to New Jersey began dumping sand into skate parks, playgrounds, and public areas to prevent groups or crowds from the recreation sites.

Tons of sand were dumped into public skate parks in Los Angeles, which enraged professional and amateur shredders alike.

In April 2020, skaters were so fed up with the city of Los Angeles that they brought their own shovels to clear sand from the iconic Venice Beach skate park.

Professional skater Paul Rodriguez told “The Undefeated” at the time that the move was “a little stronger than [the city] needed to do.”

“I was like, damn, that’s aggressive… But as a human, I’m like, we’re going through a pandemic, I mean, we’ve got to do what we got to do,” Rodriguez said.

CA SKATEPARKS FILLED WITH SAND

Skate “bowls” in San Clemente, California, were also filled in with 37 tons of sand after skaters ignored several “No Trespassing” signs.

In Pittsburgh, skaters climbed over closed fences and cut locks, according to the public works department, when local media asked about its own decision to fill the parks with sand.

In other cities, public basketball hoops were removed from backboards, while 2x4s were nailed to cover other baskets in an effort to prevent people from congregating.

5. JUST A COKE, PLEASE

While lockdown policies in many states had either intentional or unintentional consequences on the consumption of alcohol, the Northeast was incongruently affected by such a change in social behavior.

In August 2021, as some states began slowly slackening some of their orders, others retained a tough stance to “stop the spread.”

Virginia, Pennsylvania and several other states employ “state stores” or “ABC” outlets to sell alcohol that is effectively solely available from the state government. 

One state that doesn’t is Delaware. With its regional tax-free shopping mecca in Christiana and the availability of liquor in mega-stores like Total Wine, it is often a draw for higher-tax or socially-stricter states around it.

COVID-19 made the First State no different, as Pennsylvania continued to keep its state stores closed, Philadelphians and others tried to find new ways to get their alcohol legally.

Just as Pennsylvania’s side of its state lines is dotted with fireworks outlets geared toward out-of-state visitors, a liquor superstore stands just yards inside Delaware at I-95 and DE-92.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The store began seeing a major influx of out-of-state patrons who snuck across from Marcus Hook – until Delaware instituted a travel ban and then-Gov. John Carney’s administration gave police authority to pull over any out-of-state-tagged vehicle.

The parking lot of the Total Wine was a hub for such activity, as thirsty Pennsylvanians converged on the market to purchase their drinks of choice and zip home.

DSP Cpl. Michael Austin responded to the situation in a statement to the Delco Times: 

“The primary intent and goal of the Delaware State Police is to uphold their sworn duties by providing information to the public that we serve, in order to gain voluntary compliance with the mandates, and to promote, and further ensure public safety and health.”

Similar dynamics occurred across state lines around the country as well, but not to the high-profile nature media-wise of the “Naamans Road checkpoint.”

NCAA Tournament bid leads to social media backlash: ‘How did this even happen?’

Perhaps the biggest shock after the 2025 NCAA Tournament men’s basketball bracket was revealed on Sunday was seeing the North Carolina Tar Heels as one of the “First Four” teams that will play San Diego State to determine who will be the No. 11 in the South Region. 

There’s a large contingent that isn’t too happy with that decision by the selection committee. 

Social media erupted with backlash after the Tar Heels were named as the last team of 68 to make it in, and there’s some backing to that vitriol. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

UNC, despite the program’s historic pedigree, was just 1-12 in Quadrant 1 games, which the selection committee determines as a game against a team that is ranked in the top 30 of the NET (the NCAA’s evaluation tool) at home, against a team ranked 1-50 on a neutral court, and 1-75 in away contests. 

Bubba Cunningham, the Tar Heels athletic director who also happens to be the chair of the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee, explained the process that went into UNC making it in. 

“Obviously, I’m going to defer that to [vice committee chair] Keith [Gill],” Cunningham responded after being asked about UNC getting in and how it wasn’t a conflict of interest. “But all the policies and procedures were followed. And Keith can address exactly how North Carolina was discussed because I was not in the room for any of that.”

NCAA TOURNAMENT BRACKET REVEALED: AUBURN NAMED NO 1 OVERALL SEED AS 68 TEAMS VIE FOR NATIONAL TITLE

Gill responded, “Our policies require the AD of any school to recuse themselves and actually leave the room for those discussions. And they’re not allowed to participate in any vote as well. … We voted in four teams in the field on Saturday night, and we had a contingency vote.

“The contingency vote, that was the last team in the field. And it was based on Memphis-UAB. If Memphis won that game, then that was going to free up a spot in the tournament and that was going to be North Carolina.”

Despite the responses about why UNC got in, social media commenters wasted no time reacting when seeing the Tar Heels’ decision. 

“Maybe the worst team ever to get an at-large bid,” one commenter on X said. 

Another added, “How did this even happen??”

“1-12 vs Q1,” one explained. “NC State was the highest NET team ever left out in 2019 with a net of 33. The reason was a 3-9 Q1 record.”

It wasn’t entirely backlash, though, as some brought up the Tar Heels’ recent games against some of the best teams in the country. 

“Like it or not, the Tarheels over the last month are amongst the Top 30-40 teams in the country just based off current form,” one commenter said. “If you want the maximum quality in the tourney, it’s a no brainer.”

Another added, “Why is anyone upset about UNC having to play into the NCAA Tournament? They were 33rd in [KenPom ratings] and 36th in NET. Their Quad 1 losses include, Kansas, Alabama, Auburn, Michigan St, and Duke, with many coming down to the wire. UNC deserved to get in.”

UNC finished 22-13 overall and 13-7 in ACC play while winning two games in the ACC Tournament before being bounced by the No. 1-seeded Duke Blue Devils in the semifinals. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Meanwhile, teams like Indiana, West Virginia, Boise State and UC Irvine – all of which were on the bubble – didn’t get in despite having competitive resumes. 

Each year, teams on the bubble are heartbroken when their name isn’t called during the selection show. It’s an unfortunate part of the game, but ultimately, the decision is final. 

The Tar Heels will play the Aztecs on Tuesday night to determine who will be the No. 11 seed facing off against No. 6 Ole Miss in the South Region. 

Travel warning shakes up plans for spring breakers headed to top destination