Full Breakdown
Trump Administration Begins Big Bend Border Wall Construction
By Drooid · · How we work
Construction Begins in Big Bend Region
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has started installing 30-foot steel bollard panels along a 47-mile stretch in Hudspeth County, west Texas. PBS reports that work is already underway, while The Guardian notes that the first panels are scheduled to be installed on September 15. The project is part of a roughly 500-mile “Big Bend” corridor that stretches from south of El Paso to Lake Amistad.
Funding, Scope, and Construction Pace
The wall effort is funded by a $46 billion allocation added to the 2025 spending bill. The plan calls for a mix of steel bollard fencing, vehicle barriers, patrol roads, and detection sensors. CBP says it is now building an average of 12 miles of barrier per week—double the pace cited earlier by commissioner Rodney Scott—and has reached a milestone of 200 miles of new barriers since the second Trump administration took office.
Opposition, Lawsuits, and Community Concerns
Local landowners, ranchers, and environmental groups have organized under the No Big Bend Wall Coalition, founded by Clara Benson. The coalition and a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the region’s landscape have filed a lawsuit to halt construction. Critics argue the wall will damage sacred Indigenous sites, degrade wildlife areas such as Big Bend National Park, and lower property values by obstructing river access and grazing operations.
Official Statements & Responses
Commissioner Rodney Scott temporarily paused work near Big Bend National Park after images of bulldozers sparked backlash from public-land advocates.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We will continue to fight for this land no matter what the outcome is. We will continue fighting to the end,” — Clara Benson, one of the founders of the No Big Bend Wall Coalition
- “I’m very optimistic that there is a lot of support for Big Bend,” — Bob Krumenaker