Trump administration pauses construction of border project in Big Bend National Park
The $1.7 billion border project, which has faced bipartisan opposition, broke ground earlier this month on public lands that are known for rich biodiversity, including hundreds of species of birds, bobcats, and black bears.
Construction on a controversial border project at Big Bend National Park in Texas has come to a halt, according to the Trump administration. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) head Rodney Scott announced that the agency is pausing all construction activities in the park while President Trump personally conducts a thorough evaluation.
Footage of bulldozers working within the 800,000-acre Chihuahuan Desert national park emerged earlier this month after the administration initially denied and failed to announce the multibillion-dollar "smart wall" expansion in the park.
The development sparked concern among environmental groups, who worried that the construction would mar the pristine landscape. Laiken Jordahl, a public lands advocate with the Center for Biological Diversity, expressed dismay over the bulldozing of a new road through one of the park's most beloved stretches. Despite the opposition, many Texas Republicans have remained silent on the matter.
Senator John Cornyn, who is stepping down from his position, wrote a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin requesting the halt in construction. Cornyn argued that the 1,000-foot riverbank cliffs and remote Big Bend terrain already provide sufficient deterrents for illegal migrants attempting to cross into the United States.
CBP is expected to complete the first layer of the wall by the end of next year, as stated by Scott.
Written by urgent.news from The Guardian US's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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