Customs officials pause Big Bend project after local pressure

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officials pushed pause Sunday on the construction of new security measures in Texas' Big Bend National Park after mounting pushback from local residents and officials.

Border Patrol Commissioner Rodney Scott announced Monday night that he had called for a halt so that he could personally investigate the situation. Scott flew to Texas on Monday to speak to stakeholders, local officials, and see the construction sites for himself. He reiterated what he described as the patrol’s firm commitment to protecting America, explaining that the commitment included national treasures like Big Bend National Park. Local Natalie Newman, a staunch advocate for the parks, said Monday that she would not give up, because the pause did not represent a full stop.

What kind of construction are we talking about? Scott released a statement late last week saying border officials planned to build one new access road, install detection technology, and place strategic vehicle barriers in limited locations. Scott denied claims that officials planned to build a 30-foot wall or install stadium-style lighting.

What brought about the change? Communal outcry arose in response to the construction on various levels. A bipartisan group of over 40 Texas House of Representatives members on Monday sent a letter to Gov. Greg Abbott expressing their opposition to the construction. They called the mountains, cliffsides, and harsh climate of the region a God-given barrier, adding that physical barriers have long been recognized as unnecessary. The costly and disruptive measures moving forward despite overwhelming bipartisan opposition was particularly concerning, the letter said. Rep. Eddie Morales Jr., D-Texas, posted the letter alongside a statement that said Texas does not and should not bend the knee to the will of the federal government, he added.

The Center for Biological Diversity also brought a lawsuit against the Border Patrol in June challenging the repeal of environmental and historic protections and dozens of other federal laws to expedite construction, calling the repeals unconstitutional. Construction would destroy iconic sections of the United States Rio Grande corridor while tarnishing the laws, according to the lawsuit. A tribal nonprofit associated with the Lipan Apaches and a local outdoor center also brought a lawsuit against the government in August, calling for a halt. The lawsuit argued that a precedent was set to protect the nation’s civic inheritance through the national parks and the construction would cause irreparable damage, including to areas of indigenous heritage.

Dig deeper: Check out my previous Sift on the Big Bend sector construction and controversy.