Border Barrier Work Set to Resume in Texas as Conservationists Prepare Legal Fight

The Department of Homeland Security has allowed a temporary suspension of border-related construction in Texas’s Big Bend region to lapse, clearing the way for Customs and Border Protection to restart the 61-mile Big Bend 2 barrier project in Presidio County as of September 30. The separate Big Bend 4 proposal, which would have placed steel barriers and new patrol roads within and east of Big Bend National Park, is being reconsidered; CBP says it will scale back the scope to address concerns raised by the National Park Service and other stakeholders.

Conservation groups, including Conserve Big Bend and Keep Big Bend Wild, have asked the court for a preliminary injunction to halt the work, arguing it threatens wildlife, tourism, and local livelihoods. CBP plans to use existing roads and technology where possible, but some property owners have refused access, prompting potential condemnation actions. Officials anticipate a final decision on the revised plan during the first week of October, while the debate continues over balancing border security with environmental protection.