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CBP Maps Primary Border Wall Through Big Bend as Contracts Near

DHS has moved to waive 28 environmental and preservation laws to expedite the Smart Wall project.

Overview

  • An updated CBP Smart Wall map shows planned steel bollard segments through parts of Big Bend National Park and neighboring Big Bend Ranch State Park.
  • CBP says Big Bend Sector contracts are expected within weeks, with all awards by mid-2026 and construction phases anticipated toward the end of 2026 pending land acquisition.
  • DHS named Parsons Government Services to manage the project, with overall completion targeted for early 2028.
  • Conservation groups warn the plan would sever wildlife corridors, increase flash‑flood risks, and damage sensitive landscapes and local tourism.
  • DHS characterizes the area as high illegal entry, while Border Patrol data show the Big Bend Sector had the lowest FY2025 encounters among southern border sectors at about 3,096.