Las Cruces is suddenly on the shortlist for a sizable new Border Patrol station, as U.S. Customs and Border Protection kicks off a formal scoping process that could reshape a big chunk of city land.
The agency confirmed in a March 4 letter that it is weighing three possible sites inside city limits for a proposed facility of roughly 30 to 40 acres. The station would be designed to house additional agents and support staff as CBP ramps up operations in the El Paso and Las Cruces sectors. One location, near Highland Elementary, is already under fire from a city councilor who wants it off the table over traffic and environmental concerns. Local officials now have only a narrow window to weigh in before CBP releases a draft Environmental Assessment.
What the CBP letter says
In its March 4 correspondence to City Manager Ikani Taumoepeau, CBP said it is preparing an Environmental Assessment and is “gathering data and input” from state and local agencies, according to the CBP letter. The document describes a proposed Border Patrol station on a parcel “approximately 30 to 40 acres in size” meant to “accommodate the addition of new agents and personnel” as CBP increases its presence in the El Paso Sector.
The letter asks agencies to submit comments within 30 days so their concerns can be folded into the scoping process and notes that a public review period will follow once the draft Environmental Assessment is published. In other words, the first shot at shaping this project belongs to government stakeholders, with residents getting an official look at it a bit later.
How this fits into wider border projects
The Las Cruces proposal is not a one-off. CBP signaled broader infrastructure ambitions in Doña Ana County when, in 2025, the agency floated plans for roughly 1.3 miles of border barrier near Mount Cristo Rey, according to KVIA. That planning, layered on top of other federal activity in the region, has intensified scrutiny of how new projects are permitted, their environmental footprint, and what they mean for nearby communities.
Councilor pushes to remove school‑adjacent site
One potential location has already become a flashpoint. City Councilor Michael Harris said he has asked that the site closest to Highland Elementary be removed from consideration, arguing that the volume of Border Patrol vehicles poses environmental concerns.
Harris told KFOX that a “remote location away from homes, schools and churches is better” if the station later needs room to expand. The outlet’s report includes a map showing all three locations CBP is eyeing, which could become must-see reading for neighbors trying to gauge how close this project might land.
What residents and officials can expect next
With the scoping period now open, local agencies and other stakeholders have a limited span of time to flag siting, permitting, or environmental issues they want CBP to consider. If those concerns are substantive, they can still influence which of the three candidate sites moves ahead or how large the footprint becomes before the draft Environmental Assessment is released for a formal public review.
The letter was sent to City Manager Ikani Taumoepeau and signed by John Petrilla of CBP’s Office of Facilities and Asset Management. In the coming weeks, council discussions and public feedback will help determine whether any of the proposed locations make it from the federal wish list to a real construction plan.
