Heavy machinery is active at the mouth of Santa Elena Canyon within Big Bend National Park. Activists recently captured footage of bulldozers plowing earth in this protected area. This activity occurs as the federal government moves forward with border security infrastructure projects despite significant pushback from park advocates and local stakeholders.
Customs and Border Protection originally suggested the work involved road maintenance, though officials later indicated the activity serves as soil assessment for planned vehicle barriers. The project falls under a multi-billion dollar border security initiative authorized by recent legislation. Plans for this region include approximately 17 miles of vehicle barriers and new patrol roads.
The Department of Homeland Security previously waived numerous federal environmental and cultural protection laws to expedite these installations. This decision bypassed standard public review processes. Critics argue that the infrastructure is unnecessary given that official records show relatively few unlawful border crossings occur within these park boundaries.
Legal action is currently underway. Advocates, including the Center for Biological Diversity, filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security. Plaintiffs argue the agency failed to provide required notice before starting ground-disturbing activities. While Senator John Cornyn recently requested a pause to allow for local input, construction preparations continue. A New Mexico firm holds the multibillion-dollar contract for the work.