Overview
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection says crews have begun early construction activities such as clearing and digging on the Big Bend 1, 2 and 3 project sites in Hudspeth, Jeff Davis and Presidio counties.
- A contractor’s heavy equipment marked Southwest Valley Constructors was seen inside Big Bend National Park and in nearby towns, and CBP says formal barrier-panel installation is expected in the coming weeks.
- The work is tied to a roughly $1.7 billion Smart Wall contract that funds vehicle barriers, surveillance systems and about 200 miles of new or improved patrol roads across the Big Bend region.
- Local outfitters, conservation groups and several Democratic lawmakers warn that new roads, debris or road-building methods could alter the Rio Grande, limit public access and raise potential violations of the 1970 U.S.-Mexico Boundary Treaty.
- CBP says it will avoid 30-foot barriers in park lands, has no plans to blast Mariscal Mountain, and is coordinating with the National Park Service while opponents press for a pause or technology-only alternatives.