U.S. Plans Border Wall Construction in Texas Big Bend Region

Last fall, loops of razor-wire fencing were installed along the Rio Grande in the Big Bend area of far West Texas. In January, residents began hearing rumors that a steel barrier would follow. Survey crews arrived and bulldozers were seen along local roads.

The Army Corps of Engineers held private meetings with some residents. One local RV park owner said he was offered more than half a million dollars to host construction workers but declined the offer. The proposed wall would cost more than two billion dollars.

It would cross land used by alfalfa farmers, cattle ranchers and river guides. The project would also affect views along a route National Geographic has described as one of the country's most scenic drives and alter some of the darkest night skies in the continental United States.

The wall would impede movement of wild animals and prevent livestock from reaching the Rio Grande for water. It could disturb archaeological evidence linked to the Puebloan world, according to an archaeologist working in the area. In flood-prone sections, the barrier could worsen flooding and sever connections between binational communities that have long operated interdependently.

Big Bend is the Border Patrol's largest sector by area along the southwest border, covering more than 500 miles of the Rio Grande. It has recorded the lowest number of illegal crossings. Apprehensions have fallen further since 2023, averaging fewer than 200 per month this year.

The project faces opposition from environmental groups, local sheriffs and the region's Republican nominee for Congress, a pro-gun YouTuber. A historic house built by his father lies in the path of the proposed wall. "You've got desert and high mountains and rugged, rough country and no water and no roads," Ivey said.

"The easiest part of getting to the United States would be scaling the wall. " River guide Billy Miller, who owns land near the Rio Grande, said the wall would endanger boaters during flash floods and accelerate the departure of local tourism businesses already strained by low water levels.

Miller and other landowners have relied on a Department of Homeland Security map that has changed colors and been temporarily removed from the agency's website in recent weeks, creating uncertainty about which properties would be affected. The current map shows "technology & patrol roads" and "vehicle barrier systems" inside the national park, with a steel wall planned for other parts of the region including sections of Big Bend Ranch State Park.

The construction strikes many locals as both unreasonable and unstoppable despite the area's low crossing numbers and difficult terrain.