Texas Parks and Wildlife faces outcry over border wall construction

Hundreds of Texans gathered at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission’s annual public hearing in Austin to protest potential federal border wall construction on state park lands. The demonstrations followed reports of bulldozers entering Big Bend National Park, sparking widespread concern regarding the impact of infrastructure on protected wilderness.

While construction has already begun in Big Bend National Park, the future of barriers in Big Bend Ranch State Park and the Black Gap Wildlife Management Area remains uncertain. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Rodney Scott recently paused construction in the area to conduct an on-the-ground assessment.

Despite the controversy, border barrier construction was not included on the commission’s formal agenda. The debate has united diverse groups, including environmentalists, ranchers, and local officials, who advocate for border security that does not infringe upon public lands and natural landscapes.