Big Bend border construction faces legal challenges from tribal nonprofit

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Rodney S. Scott has denied claims that the agency is building a 30-foot wall through Big Bend National Park. Scott stated that current work involves building one new access road, improving existing roads, installing detection technology, and placing vehicle barriers in strategic locations. He clarified that heavy machinery seen in the park is currently performing survey and design work.

Simultaneously, a tribal nonprofit, the People of La Junta for Preservation, and an outdoor recreation company have filed a lawsuit in federal court to halt construction. The plaintiffs argue that the projects—which include roads, drainage structures, lighting, and sensors—threaten to cause irreparable damage to archaeological sites and culturally significant landscapes associated with indigenous peoples, specifically the Lipan Apache community.

The legal challenge follows a June order from Secretary Markwayne Mullin that waived certain federal and state requirements for construction along 62 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border. The lawsuit contends that this order did not waive the responsibility of the National Park Service to protect the park's integrity and religious freedoms.