Customs and Border Protection Announces Temporary Pause to Border Construction in Big Bend National Park

WASHINGTON – Today, Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott announced a temporary pause to border construction in Big Bend National Park via a video posted to Twitter.

Scott also announced plans to visit the Big Bend region to evaluate the project. This announcement followed more than a week of widespread public outcry over border construction within Big Bend. Viral videos showed federal contractors causing damage to sensitive park resources at Mariscal Mountain and areas near Santa Elena Canyon. Park wildlife were documented fleeing from heavy machinery.

The National Parks Conservation Association strongly opposes the administration’s plans for construction through Big Bend, which could inflict irreparable damage to Texas national parks, iconic wildlife, and tight-knit gateway communities like Terlingua.

Five border security infrastructure projects are currently planned for the Big Bend region, impacting not only Big Bend National Park but nearby Amistad National Recreation Area and Big Bend Ranch State Park. The administration has waived bedrock environmental laws designed to protect national parks that would require extensive review for these types of projects.

Statement of Tiernan Sittenfeld, President and CEO for the National Parks Conservation Association:

“The people have spoken, and they do not want the Trump administration to bulldoze America’s national parks for border infrastructure. This pause on construction comes following hundreds of thousands of Americans bravely raising their voices to save Big Bend National Park.

“Unfortunately, the federal contractors’ bulldozers have already inflicted tremendous damage to one of America’s most iconic national parks. Their heavy equipment has torn through miles of priceless wild landscape, wreaking havoc on sensitive wildlife and irreplaceable habitat. We demand that Customs and Border Protection take accountability for the destruction that has occurred at the park and do better by the American people and by our national parks.

“When Customs and Border Protection meets with West Texas communities, national park advocates, and expert national park staff, we urge the agency to commit to preventing any further harm to Big Bend and other protected landscapes.”

About the National Parks Conservation Association: Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its more than 1.9 million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s most iconic and inspirational places for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org.