Trump administration pauses border construction in Big Bend National Park amid opposition

Since President Trump returned to office in January 2025, his administration has pursued new border infrastructure in the Big Bend region of West Texas, targeting both national and state parks. In August, CBP announced the start of survey and design work for an access road and vehicle barriers inside Big Bend National Park, but Commissioner Rodney Scott halted the project on Aug. 17 to conduct a personal evaluation and meet local stakeholders.

Officials say no 30-foot wall will be built atop the park’s cliffs, but CBP’s website shows contracts for 30-foot barriers on private land outside the protected areas, covering 175 miles in three counties. The sector, which spans 77 counties and 517 miles of border, logged 3,096 encounters in fiscal 2025—only about 1 % of total border apprehensions—and saw a 42.5 % drop in the first seven months compared with the prior year.

Opposition includes local landowners, environmentalists worried about endangered species such as the black-capped vireo and Mexican long-nosed bat, and a bipartisan coalition of sheriffs, judges and state officials who argue the terrain itself provides natural security. Lawsuits filed by groups like the People of La Junta for Preservation and Democracy Forward seek to block the construction on legal and cultural grounds.