Trump administration begins border wall construction through Big Bend national park, sparking bipartisan backlash

Aug 14, 2026

The Trump administration has deployed bulldozers to Big Bend National Park to clear land for a $1.7 billion "smart wall" project, sparking intense bipartisan backlash. Opponents, including Republican Senator John Cornyn and local law enforcement, argue the park's rugged terrain already deters crossings. Meanwhile, the Lipan Apache-associated nonprofit People of La Junta has filed a federal lawsuit to halt construction, warning that the project threatens sacred indigenous archaeological sites and religious freedoms.

Big Bend border wall construction

▪The Trump administration's Big Bend project includes constructing approximately 200 miles of patrol roads, 17 miles of six-foot-tall vehicle barriers, and electronic surveillance measures.
▪Bulldozers and heavy machinery began clearing land at the mouth of Big Bend National Park's Santa Elena Canyon in August 2026 to lay groundwork for border security infrastructure.
▪Southwest Valley Contractors of New Mexico secured a $1.7 billion contract in May 2026 to construct the border security infrastructure in the Big Bend region.
▪U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott stated in August 2026 that the heavy machinery in Big Bend National Park was performing survey and design work rather than active wall construction.

Bipartisan opposition to project

▪Terrell County Republican Sheriff Thaddeus Cleveland expressed opposition to the construction, calling the installation of barriers in that specific area of Big Bend National Park unnecessary.
▪Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham sent a cease and desist letter to U.S. Customs and Border Protection in July 2026 for clearing land in the Big Bend region.
▪A bipartisan coalition of 46 Texas state House representatives sent a letter in August 2026 urging Governor Greg Abbott to call for an immediate cessation of construction in the region.
▪U.S. Senator John Cornyn sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin in August 2026 requesting a halt to construction to consult with local residents.

Natural terrain as deterrent

▪Bipartisan opponents of the project argue that Big Bend National Park's rugged terrain, including 1,000-foot cliffs and the Chisos Mountains, serves as a natural deterrent to illegal crossings.
▪Immigration authorities made only 100 to 125 arrests annually in 2023 and 2024 within Big Bend National Park, representing approximately 1 percent of total border apprehensions.

Environmental damage concerns

▪The Department of Homeland Security waived dozens of federal environmental and cultural protection laws to expedite the construction of border infrastructure in the Big Bend region.
▪Opponents of the project express concern that the construction of roads, lighting, and barriers will disrupt wildlife migration, damage the wilderness, and harm the local tourism economy.
▪The Center for Biological Diversity and river guide Billy Miller filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security, alleging that the waiver of federal laws violated constitutional rights.

Lipan Apache lawsuit

▪The Lipan Apache-associated lawsuit argues that the construction project threatens constitutionally protected religious freedoms and will cause irreparable damage to sacred indigenous archaeological sites.
▪The Lipan Apache lawsuit names the Department of Homeland Security as a defendant and argues that Secretary Markwayne Mullin's waiver did not override the National Park Service's legal duty to protect the park.
▪The People of La Junta for Preservation filed a lawsuit in San Antonio federal court on August 14, 2026, seeking to block construction in Big Bend National Park.