Big Bend National Park, TX – Construction activity connected to border infrastructure inside Big Bend National Park has been paused following public concern over videos showing bulldozers and heavy equipment disturbing areas of the park.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott said he ordered construction activity in the park paused while he travels to the area to personally evaluate the work and meet with stakeholders and local law enforcement.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott separately said he spoke with Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and was given a commitment that no type of physical barrier would be constructed inside Big Bend National Park.
The two statements leave questions about the project's future. While Abbott said physical barriers would not be constructed, Scott characterized the current action as a pause pending further review.
Questions also remain regarding access-road work, proposed surveillance technology and areas of land already disturbed by construction.
The National Parks Conservation Association has called for additional work to be stopped and for federal officials to address damage it says has already occurred to sensitive landscapes and wildlife habitat.
As of Monday, the National Park Service continued to describe work in the area as an active, large-scale construction project, with construction-related closures near Santa Elena Canyon remaining in effect until further notice.
Scott said additional information is expected following meetings in the Big Bend region this week.