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Elected officials in Texas and several environmental groups are speaking out after bulldozers were reportedly recently spotted in the Big Bend area.
Images shared by the environmental organization Center for Biological Diversity on Aug. 6 showed heavy equipment in Big Bend National Park. According to the National Parks Conservation Association, federal contractors authorized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection began clearing miles of sensitive habitat near Santa Elena Canyon.
The work is part of the Trump administration’s plan to construct new border barriers, paved roads and other infrastructure in the Big Bend region. CBP said it is coordinating with federal and state agencies “throughout the planning of border barrier and technology deployments, in order to achieve Border Patrol’s operational priorities,” USA TODAY previously reported.
The National Parks Conservation Association has strongly opposed the construction, warning that the projects could cause lasting damage to the park’s landscape, wildlife habitat and nearby gateway communities.
“Bulldozing Big Bend National Park is an unconscionable attack on one of America’s greatest treasures,” said Tiernan Sittenfeld, National Parks Conservation Association President and CEO. “The administration is slashing through miles of this wild landscape, threatening access to recreation and harming sensitive wildlife habitat.”
The Center for Biological Diversity echoed those remarks.
“This is the most heinous attack on an American national park in generations,” said Laiken Jordahl, national public lands advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity. “The administration is preparing to blast hundreds of miles of destructive roads through the wildest place left in Texas and cut off public access to the Rio Grande, all to enrich private contractors.”
Here’s more reaction to bulldozers appearing at the national park.
Sen. John Cornyn sends letter to Trump administration officials
Sen. John Cornyn sent an Aug. 11 letter to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin to address concerns before construction moves forward.
“Recently a bipartisan group of Texas border sheriffs and county judges, private landowners, and the Big Bend Park advocates have raised significant concerns about DHS’ proposed construction of border barriers in Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park,” Cornyn wrote in the letter. “My constituents believe that the 1,000-foot riverbank cliffs and remote Big Bend terrain offers its own source of deterrence for any illegal migrants crossing into the United States. The dangerous terrain includes steep mountains, deep canyons, and expansive deserts which they believe act as a natural barrier that limits large-scale movements.”
Cornyn said he has received requests from local officials and community leaders for coordination and communication before proceeding with any construction.
“Working cooperatively with concerned stakeholders and clearly laying out how the proposed construction will impact the region and the assessments the Department made to reach such conclusions would go a long way in allaying some of my constituents’ concerns,” Cornyn wrote.
Talarico calls Big Bend border wall ‘useless’
Democratic candidate James Talarico reacted to images of bulldozers at Big Bend in an X post.
“God already built a wall through Big Bend — it’s called the Chisos Mountains. We don’t need to give billions of our tax dollars to out of state vendors. We don’t need to desecrate this sacred land. We don’t need this useless, disgraceful, corrupt Big Bend border wall,” he wrote.
US Rep. Veronica Escobar: ‘This is a sad reminder’
U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar rehashed a proposal put out by the House Appropriations Committee that would ban a wall at the national park. The measure, proposed by Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, would have prevented the Department of Homeland Security’s budget from being used to construct barriers within the park, but failed to pass, reported Texas Tribune.
“Every Democrat supported this while every Republican – even those from Texas – voted against it,” she said.
Rep. Lloyd Doggit urges answers
Congressman Lloyd Doggit urged Trump Administration officials to delay work until specific details of the project are made fully available.
“The potential destruction from road construction over the rugged terrain of Mariscal Mountain is extreme,” Doggett said in a July 31 news release. “Tons of rock blasted away could end up impacting Mariscal Canyon, the Rio Grande, and Mexico. An incredible waste of both taxpayer money and an invaluable place of spectacular beauty!”
Doggit also called for people to be vocal on Facebook, writing “Your voice has power in stopping so much of this wrongdoing. Continue to call for Trump and his Republican enablers to provide explanation, not destruction.”
Natassia Paloma may be reached at npaloma@gannett.com, @NatassiaPaloma on X, natassia_paloma on Instagram, and Natassia Paloma on Facebook.