Beyond the 806
TribCast: The Big Bend border barrier backlash
Plans to build a border barrier through Big Bend National Park have drawn rare bipartisan outrage, uniting Texas ranchers, environmentalists, and politicians from opposite sides of the aisle against the Trump administration's push. Big Bend is one of the most visited stretches of West Texas, a park generations of Texans have hiked, camped, and driven hours to reach.
Big Bend is one of the most visited stretches of West Texas, a park generations of Texans have hiked, camped, and driven hours to reach. The proposal to run border infrastructure through it hit a nerve far beyond the usual political lines. Last week, Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott announced a pause on construction and traveled to the area to hear directly from people there.
State Sen. Csar Blanco, D-El Paso, joined Scott for that meeting, trying to find a way to address border enforcement without tearing through protected land. A Democratic state senator and a federal border enforcement chief sitting down together over this says something about how broadly the backlash landed.
For folks in Lubbock who make the long drive out to Big Bend every year, or who have family in the Trans-Pecos region, this is not an abstract policy fight. It's about whether one of the last genuinely wild corners of Texas stays that way.
Big Bend covers more than 800,000 acres and shares 118 miles of Rio Grande boundary with Mexico, making it the largest national park in Texas.
Common questions
Why are people upset about the border barrier at Big Bend?
- The proposal to run border infrastructure through Big Bend National Park drew rare bipartisan anger from Texas ranchers, environmentalists, and politicians on both sides. Big Bend is a beloved West Texas landmark that generations of Texans have hiked and camped in, making the plan deeply personal beyond normal political divides.
Is construction of the Big Bend border barrier still happening?
- Construction has been paused. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott announced the pause and traveled to the Big Bend area to hear directly from local residents and stakeholders about their concerns regarding the proposed border infrastructure through the national park.
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