Big Bend border wall construction pause extended to Sept. 30

The federal government has extended a pause on border wall construction within Big Bend National Park in West Texas until September 30. This extension follows a temporary restraining order issued by a San Antonio federal judge, which prevents the White House from building barriers inside the parkland.

State Senator Roland Gutierrez, an attorney representing plaintiffs including the Lipan-Apache Tribe and the adventure company Far Flung Outfitters, stated that the federal government has committed to no “moving of earth or dirt of any kind” during this period. The plaintiffs argue that the construction threatens the religious freedoms of the Lipan-Apache members and the economic viability of local businesses.

In response to the ongoing dispute, local groups have organized events such as the “Big Bend Bumbershoots and Bioblitz Broadjump” from September 30 to October 4. These activities aim to survey local wildlife and plants while protesting the ecological impact of Department of Homeland Security construction projects in the region.