‘Devastating’: bulldozers plough through Big Bend national park as Trump’s border work pushes ahead

Key Points:

• Bulldozers have begun clearing land at the mouth of Big Bend National Park’s Santa Elena Canyon for the Trump administration’s “smart wall” border expansion, despite initial denials from US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
• The Big Bend region, a vast and ecologically sensitive area with low illegal crossing rates, has faced backlash from local businesses, political leaders, and environmental advocates who oppose border infrastructure that threatens the wilderness.
• CBP initially planned a 30-foot steel wall but scaled back to patrol roads and vehicle barriers after public outcry; however, construction has started with federal environmental laws waived to expedite the project.
• Local politicians, especially Democrats, have condemned the project, while prominent Texas Republicans have mostly remained silent; a lawsuit has been filed challenging the waiver of environmental protections and demanding proper notice before construction.
• Critics warn that despite current plans for limited barriers, the administration may still pursue a full border wall through the park, raising concerns about long-term environmental and cultural damage.