Since President Trump returned to office in January 2025, his administration has renewed efforts to erect border barriers in parts of the U.S.-Mexico border that don’t currently have any.
That includes the Big Bend region in far West Texas, home to the Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park — both of which the Trump administration has targeted for border security infrastructure.
Historically, the region has recorded the fewest illegal crossings along the entire southwest border. However, the Trump administration has awarded billions of dollars worth of contracts to build some form of infrastructure to deter illegal border crossings, while assuring concerned West Texas residents that a border wall or fence would not be constructed within the national park.
Local residents, environmentalists, and a bipartisan group of elected officials, including sheriffs and county judges, have still called on the administration to halt all construction activities.
Here’s what we know about the Trump administration’s efforts to install border security infrastructure in the Big Bend region:
What are they building in the national park?
In August, when bulldozers arrived at the park, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that crews were starting survey and design work for an access road and vehicle barriers.
In an August 13 statement, CBP emphasized that it aims to maintain visitor access and preserve the landscape, arguing that construction is necessary for border security. “These improvements will help our agents detect illegal crossings, respond faster, and assist visitors in danger,” stated CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott.
However, following significant backlash from residents and advocates against the wall, Scott announced on August 17 that construction work in the national park would be paused for an “on-the-ground evaluation,” just days after heavy machinery began operating.
“I put a pause on all activity in that park, as far as construction goes, until I can get down there and do a personal evaluation, talk to some stakeholders, talk to some local law enforcement in that area,” Scott noted on social media.
The pause is set to last until August 31, as indicated in a court filing by Trump administration lawyers in an ongoing lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This lawsuit was initiated by the People of La Junta for Preservation, a nonprofit associated with the Lipan Apache community, along with the Far Flung Outdoor Center, which provides river trips in the area.
In the court filing, the administration stated that work prior to the pause was limited to pre-construction activities like clearing vegetation for geotechnical surveys and access routes.
Does the Big Bend region see a lot of illegal crossings?
Despite claims from then-U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem labeling the Big Bend Sector as “an area of high illegal entry,” it remains the least active among all Border Patrol sectors.
The area covers 77 Texas counties and spans 517 miles of the 1,954-mile-long U.S.-Mexico border, including state and national parks.
In fiscal year 2025, CBP recorded 3,096 migrant encounters in this sector, which is only 1.3% of the total 237,538 apprehensions across the U.S.-Mexico border. Furthermore, apprehensions have significantly decreased, with a 74% drop last year compared to the previous two fiscal years. The Big Bend sector has mirrored this trend, logging 1,236 encounters in the first seven months of the current fiscal year, reflecting a 42.5% decrease compared to the same period last year.
Will 30-foot-tall barriers go up in the national park?
No, according to officials from the Trump administration, who have stated that they plan to install other types of deterrents, such as vehicle barriers and technology designed to detect illegal crossings.
“Big Bend National Park has some just, like, unbelievably huge granite cliffs. It would be kind of silly to put like a 30-foot border wall on top of a 90-foot granite cliff,” Scott explained in a May interview. “So what we’re trying to convey is that we are going to have meaningful border security in that entire area.”
On August 17, Texas Governor Greg Abbott confirmed that he was informed no 30-foot-tall barriers would be constructed in the park.
Why has there been so much confusion about this project?
The confusion stems from CBP’s shifting plans, which were only publicly accessible on its website and sometimes suggested that a border wall would be built in both state and national parks.
Additionally, awarded contracts explicitly state they are for border barriers, yet officials have indicated that plans are not final and could evolve based on the needs of Border Patrol agents on-site.
Landowners in the region have also received letters from CBP threatening to seize their property through eminent domain, but many report a lack of clarity regarding the government’s intentions for their land.
Will border barriers be installed outside of the park?
Yes, according to CBP. They have indicated that federal contracts have been awarded for the installation of 30-foot tall barriers on private land outside of the parks.
An announcement on CBP’s website from January 2026 confirmed plans to install border walls along 175 miles across Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, and Presidio counties.
Who opposes the Trump administration efforts?
Opposition to the administration’s efforts is broad and bipartisan.
Many local residents oppose any form of border infrastructure, arguing it is unnecessary in an area known for its safety and isolation. Landowners facing potential seizure of their property express concerns about losing their farms, businesses, and homes.
Environmentalists criticize the federal government’s plans, warning that construction could disrupt the fragile desert ecosystem and endanger local wildlife. Among the species at risk are the black-capped vireo, Mexican long-nosed bat, Big Bend gambusia, Rio Grande silvery minnow, and Chisos hedgehog cactus, all listed as endangered by the National Park Service.
