Like "pissing in the wind": Local concerns bulldozed by Trump's border wall plan

The Trump administration is dismissing the efforts of local officials who are attempting to halt the construction of a border wall and other security measures along the 2,000-mile southern border. President Trump's representatives have met with officials from Texas border counties, where residents have voiced their opposition, claiming that the plans are unnecessary in rugged areas with few immigrant crossings and may harm the environment.

At these private meetings, the government officials responded with a blunt message that there would be no negotiating. The administration is now pushing forward with building hundreds of miles of the 30-foot steel barrier in most counties, including plans for vehicle barriers and construction in Big Bend state and national parks.

Local officials, including judges and sheriffs, were the only ones invited to voice their concerns while President Trump temporarily paused construction. Private landowners, ranch owners, and eco-tourism business owners were not invited to the meetings. A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order to pause construction over roughly 600 miles of the border, but that order remains in effect only until the end of the month.

Significant construction on private land is likely to be delayed for now, with only about 20% of landowners in Presidio County and 31% of landowners east of the state park having signed away land access to the federal government. U.S. officials have stated that landowners who do not comply risk facing an eminent domain lawsuit over their property.

The administration maintains that they are evaluating technology options to meet President Trump's goal of a secure border in remote and hard-to-access areas, while local officials express concerns about the impact on tourism and the environment.