DHS Border Barrier Legal Waivers
Many laws were waived from 2005-2008 and 2017-present in specific stretches of border to expedite
construction of border barriers. These laws are waived by the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security and include “all
federal, state, or other laws, regulations, and legal requirements of, deriving from, or related to the subject of, the
following statutes, as amended.” Although the focus is border barriers, the reach of these waivers includes, but is
not limited to “accessing the project areas, creating and using staging areas, the conduct of earthwork,
excavation, fill, and site preparation, and installation and upkeep of physical barriers, roads, supporting elements,
drainage, erosion controls, safety features, lighting, cameras, and sensors” (wordings from most recent waiver
10/1/19).
Authority for these waivers was provided by the Real ID Act of 2005 and is codified in Section 102(c)
of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1103 note).
https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/house-bill/1268/text
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/8/1103
Coverage by state: California – 104 out of 141 miles, 74%
New Mexico – 114 out of 180 miles, 63%
Arizona – 323 out of 377 miles, 86%
Texas – 174 out of 1,280 miles * #
Total border-wide* = 716 miles. Total including duplicate proclamations = 909 miles.
* McAleenan waivers of 8/30/19 & 10/1/19 covering south Texas are not yet included in these totals.
# This is the raw distance of border barrier legal waivers not including duplication. Waiver distance in Texas is greater when accounting
for coverage of the actual river boundary. Many Texas waivers are described in terms of levees or other features some distance away
and which do not strictly parallel the border. This frequently covers multiple bends along the Rio Grande River. Based on coverage as
estimated by the shortest line from the end of each waiver to the river, the 174 miles of waivers covers approximately 233 miles or 18%
of the border. Waiver segments along the Colorado River in Arizona are to-date all described in terms of the actual river and do not
present the same issue.
Disclaimer: The document was prepared with great care and a focus on accurate representation. Nonetheless, it is meant for academic
research and general reference rather than definitive legal purposes. Factors that impact the final layout and accuracy of measurements
include (for example): base map, data layers, judgement calls and interpretations when conflicts or unclear data was encountered,
rounding, level of source detail, and map projection. Map projection used for these calculations was adapted from USA Contiguous
Equidistant Conic with a focus on the border region and a central meridian of 107° 08’ W. Not responsible for omissions or errors.

Waiver proclamations by date published in Federal Register.
George W. Bush / DHS Secretary Chertoff
H2 = 10/11/18; Hidalgo Co., TX; Nielsen
SD1 = 9/22/05; San Diego, CA
SD3 = 2/8/19; San Diego, CA; Nielsen
BGR = 1/19/07; Goldwater Range, AZ
Y1 = 4/24/19; Yuma, AZ; McAleenan
SPR = 10/26/07; San Pedro River, AZ
LDA = 4/24/19; Luna & Doña Ana Cos., NM; McAleenan
H1 = 4/8/08; Hidalgo Co., TX
Y2 = 4/24/19; Yuma, AZ; McAleenan
Int = 4/8/08; intermittent border-wide
C/P = 5/15/19; Cochise/Pima Counties, AZ; McAleenan
Donald J. Trump / various DHS Secretaries
Imp = 5/15/19; Imperial County, CA; McAleenan
SD2 = 8/2/17; San Diego, CA; Kelly
T/C = 5/15/19; Tecate/Calexico, CA; McAleenan
Cal = 9/12/17; Calexico, CA; Duke
Str = 7/1/19; Starr Co., TX; McAleenan
ST = 1/22/18; Santa Teresa, NM; Nielsen
S/H = 8/30/19; Starr/Hidalgo Counties, TX; McAleenan
Cam = 10/10/18; Cameron Co., TX; Nielsen
C/H = 10/1/19; Cameron/Hidalgo Counties, TX; McAleenan
Kenneth D. Madsen
Associate Professor of Geography
madsen.34@osu.edu

Maps and updates available at:
http://u.osu.edu/madsen.34/maps/
@madsen34geog

updated: 10/10/19

 Laws Waived by Each Proclamation

See proclamation code on front. Complete legal citations available on website.
1) Nat'l. Env. Policy Act: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
2) Endangered Species Act: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
3) Clean Water Act: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
4) Nat'l. Historic Pres. Act: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
5) Migratory Bird Treaty Act: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
6) Migratory Bird Cons. Act: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
7) Clean Air Act: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
8) Archeological Resources Prot. Act: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
9) Paleontological Resources Pres. Act: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
10) Fed. Cave Res. Prot. Act 1988: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------11) Nat'l. Trails Systems Act: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
12) Safe Drinking Water Act: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
13) Noise Control Act: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
14) Solid Waste Disp. Act: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
15) Comp. Env. Resp., Comp., and Liab. Act: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
16) Archaeological and Historic Pres. Act: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
17) Antiquities Act: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
18) Historic Sites, Bldgs., and Antiq. Act: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
19) Arizona-Idaho Cons. Act 1988: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
20) Wild and Scenic Rivers Act: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------21) Farmland Protection Policy Act: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
22) Coastal Zone Manag. Act: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
23) Wilderness Act: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
24) Fed. Land Policy and Manag. Act: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
25) Nat’l. Wildlife Ref. Syst. Adm. Act: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
26) Nat’l. Wildlife Ref. Syst. Impr. Act 1997: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
27) Reclamation Proj. Act 1939 [part]: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
28) Nat’l Fish and Wildlife Act 1956: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
29) Fish and Wildlife Coord. Act: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
30) Wild Horse and Burro Act: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------31) Nat’l. Def. Authoriz. Act FY 2001 [part]: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
32) Adm. Procedure Act: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
33) Otay Mountain Wilderness Act: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
34) California Desert Prot. Act [part]: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
35) Pres. Procl. Organ Pipe Cactus NM: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
36) Nat'l. Park Service Organic Act: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
37) Nat'l. Park Service Gen’l. Auth. Act: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
38) Nat’l. Parks & and Rec. Act 1978 [part]: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
39) Arizona Desert Wilderness Act [part]: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
40) Rivers and Harbors Act 1899: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------41) Eagle Prot. Act: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
42) Native Am. Graves Prot. and Rep. Act: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
43) Am. Indian Religious Freedom Act: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
44) Religious Freedom Restoration Act: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
45) Nat'l. Forest Manag. Act 1976: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
46) Mult. Use and Sustained Yield Act 1960: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
47) Fed. Grant/Coop. Agreement Act 1977: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
48) Military Lands Withdrawal Act 1999: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
49) Sikes Act: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
50) authoriz. for Pres. Procl. Coronado NM: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------51) Establishment Coronado NM: SD1, BGR, SPR, H1, Int, SD2, Cal, ST, Cam, H2, SD3, Y1, LDA, Y2, C/P, Imp, T/C, Str, S/H, C/H

updated: 1/2/20