U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) chief Rodney Scott announced on Monday that all construction activity in Big Bend National Park has been paused. Scott traveled to Texas with a small team to meet with state officials, sheriffs and local landowners, saying the trip was meant to “evaluate the terrain and listen to local leadership, community members and stakeholders to ensure that we secure our borders while simultaneously protecting BBNP.”
Pressure from Texas officials
The pause comes after weeks of coordinated pressure from Texas state lawmakers, county sheriffs and business owners. Former Border Patrol agent and current Terrell County Sheriff Thad Cleveland personally invited Scott to the area, urging him to assess what infrastructure, if any, is appropriate for the rugged terrain. Cleveland has long advocated for a “virtual wall” that relies on radar, Anduril autonomous surveillance towers, thermal cameras and other technology rather than traditional barriers.
U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R‑TX) also called on CBP to heed Texas concerns, highlighting waivers signed by former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and current Secretary Markwayne Mullin that would allow the destruction of Native American property, historic Texas structures and untouched West Texas land.
Legal and land‑use challenges
The Texas General Land Office warned CBP that continued work could trigger a state lawsuit for illegally destroying state land. State Senator Roland Gutierrez (D‑El Paso) has filed a separate lawsuit, retaining Houston attorney Dick DeGuerin to represent the plaintiffs.
Thousands of Texans have urged Congress to stop the project, noting that less than one percent of illegal crossings occur in the Big Bend sector and that the park’s natural 1,500‑foot cliffs already serve as a formidable barrier.
Congressional response
U.S. Representative Chip Roy (R‑TX) told reporters that a border wall is unnecessary in the park. He said CBP is only installing a caliche access road, buried monitoring cables and limited vehicle barriers consistent with other national parks. Roy called for a full briefing from the administration for the Texas delegation.
State Representative Eddie Morales Jr., a Democrat, signed a bipartisan letter stating, “God has blessed this region with a natural border wall – there is simply no need to spend upwards of $7 billion on shady no‑bid contracts on a sector that saw less than ~1 % of crossings.” Republican Representative Drew Darby echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the need to protect hunting, ranching and agribusiness operations that depend on the land.
Federal contract concerns
Critics noted that many contractors awarded no‑bid contracts for border projects have political ties and, in some cases, criminal histories. Former Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan (R‑Beaumont) condemned the waiving of the standard competitive‑bid process under Section 102(c) of the IIRIRA, calling it a dangerous precedent.
The Department of Homeland Security defended its work, saying media reports are “fear‑mongering” and that CBP is only conducting limited road improvements, detection‑technology installation and vehicle‑barrier placement. The Center for Biological Diversity released drone footage showing bulldozers moving on Mariscal Mountain, accusing DHS of deception.
Governor’s silence
Governor Greg Abbott has not commented publicly on the dispute. Several lawmakers have urged the governor to intervene or direct the state attorney general to sue the federal government to stop the work. Environmental advocates warned that Abbott’s inaction could be remembered as a failure to protect Texas sovereignty and natural heritage.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
