More than four dozen Texas state lawmakers have signed a letter urging Governor Greg Abbott to intervene and halt the Trump administration's border barrier work at Big Bend National Park, a move that reflects growing bipartisan unease over the project's environmental and fiscal toll.
The letter, sent Thursday, was signed by 44 members of the Texas Legislature—Democrats and Republicans alike—and calls on the Republican governor to "swiftly use every available avenue" to press the Department of Homeland Security to "immediately cease demolition and border barrier construction activities" inside the park. The lawmakers specifically referenced bulldozers and heavy equipment already operating in the area.
Abbott's office did not respond to a request for comment.
Big Bend, which sits along a sweeping curve of the Rio Grande, is celebrated for its dramatic mountain ranges, river canyons, and desert expanses. The park is a major draw for hikers, birders, and river rafters, and its remote terrain has long been considered a natural deterrent to unauthorized crossings.
Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott pushed back on the lawmakers' characterization, insisting that the work is far more limited than a full wall. In a statement, Scott said CBP is "building one new access road, improving existing roads, installing detection technology, and placing vehicle barriers in limited, strategic locations." He added emphatically: "We are NOT building a 30-foot wall or stadium lighting through Big Bend National Park, Big Bend Ranch State Park, or the Black Gap Wildlife Management Area."
Scott said the bulldozers and construction gear the lawmakers referenced are being used for "survey and design work," not wall construction. He argued the barriers will help agents detect illegal crossings, respond faster, and assist park visitors in danger.
But the state lawmakers expressed skepticism, saying the administration is not proceeding in a manner that is "effective, fiscally responsible, and respectful of the communities and landscapes we are sworn to protect." They wrote: "As you know, Big Bend is unlike any other place along the Texas-Mexico border. The mountains, cliffsides, and harsh climate already provide a God-given border barrier." They suggested that drones, radar, and other surveillance technology could better serve law enforcement needs without carving up the park.
State Representative Eddie Morales Jr., a Democrat, argued that the region accounts for less than 1 percent of border crossings, making the projected $7 billion price tag—much of it through no-bid contracts—hard to justify. "Texas does not, and should not, bend the knee to the will of the federal government," Morales wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. "Texas leaders swore an oath to protect our state, our land, and our communities—it is imperative that oath is upheld to protect this region for future generations of Texans to cherish."
The clash over Big Bend comes amid a broader national debate over border security spending and the federal government's footprint on public lands. Similar disputes have erupted in other border states, and the CBP's defense of its work has done little to soothe critics who see the project as an overreach. Meanwhile, the White House has seen recent turnover, including the departure of a deputy national security adviser, adding to the political turbulence around immigration policy.
Environmental groups have also weighed in, warning that construction could fragment wildlife corridors and damage cultural sites. The park is home to endangered species and contains archaeological treasures that predate the border itself.
For now, the ball is in Abbott's court. The governor has been a vocal critic of federal border policy and has deployed state resources to the border in the past, but he has not publicly committed to intervening in the Big Bend project. His response—or silence—will signal whether the lawmakers' bipartisan appeal carries weight in Austin.
