CBP pauses Big Bend National Park construction pending stakeholder talks

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Rodney Scott announced on Tuesday that all bulldozing and excavation work inside Texas’ Big Bend National Park would be suspended for a minimum of two weeks. The pause follows a meeting with county sheriffs and judges, during which Scott said the agency would reconsider building new patrol roads and would rely on existing routes instead.

Scott also reaffirmed that CBP has no intention to erect a steel bollard wall inside the park, though vehicle barriers may still be installed at select locations. He indicated the agency would work with local business owners to ensure river access for recreational activities and that any barriers could be designed to blend with the landscape.

The suspension comes amid legal challenges and bipartisan criticism of the broader $7 billion border-security project that includes 30-foot bollard walls and vehicle barriers across the Big Bend region. The Department of Homeland Security previously waived more than 30 federal statutes to accelerate construction, prompting at least four lawsuits and recent emergency motions in federal court.

Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham issued a cease-and-desist letter after contractors cleared state land without approval, and her office is reviewing titles and deeds to assess potential trespass. Local landowners, business operators, and law-enforcement officials plan to travel to Austin to protest the measures, citing concerns over environmental impact, recreation, and archaeological sites.

"We’re all skeptical, but at the same time, this place can move you," said Laiken Jordahl, National Public Lands Advocate for the Center for Biological Diversity, which has filed lawsuits to stop the work.

"Texas sovereignty will not be infringed upon by failure to follow established protocol," Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham said in a statement.

"He committed to keeping all work stopped. It won’t start up again until he’s had time, or local stakeholders can meet with CBP and tell him what they think the better advantage is for this area," Republican Sheriff Thaddeus Cleveland told CNN.

"I think he’s getting a pretty good education. He wasn’t unreasonable," Brewster County Sheriff Ronny Dodson added.

Stakeholders will continue discussions with CBP while courts consider the pending lawsuits, leaving the future of the border-security infrastructure in the Big Bend area uncertain.