The Trump administration is proceeding with the construction of a border wall in the Big Bend region of west Texas. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confirmed that the installation of the first "panels" began on September 15 in Hudspeth county, located east of El Paso.
CBP is seeking permission from landowners in the area to erect a 30ft steel bollard border wall, offering incentives to avoid eminent domain disputes. However, many landowners have joined the No Big Bend Wall coalition and intend to challenge the federal government's claims, leading to an incomplete and non-contiguous wall.
The Big Bend region, a remote area with natural impediments to migration such as cliffs and desert geography, has historically seen less than 2% of apprehensions for illegal crossings. Despite this, Congress allocated $46.5bn last year for border wall expansion, which CBP is using to extend its "smart wall" into the area.
Plans for west Texas also include security infrastructure in Big Bend National Park, a move that has drawn bipartisan criticism and protests. Rodney Scott, the CBP commissioner, temporarily paused construction last month after images of bulldozers sparked public backlash. An advocacy group, Keep Big Bend Wild, plans to lobby lawmakers in Washington DC next week to protect the park.