Demolition crews have begun using explosives to clear land for President Donald Trump's border wall project in Texas' Big Bend region, according to anonymous sources with US Border Patrol. The detonations, which have been ongoing for approximately two weeks, are necessary to break up the bedrock for wall construction.
This development has intensified opposition from residents and local law enforcement, who have been actively campaigning against the wall's expansion into the national park and surrounding areas. Alaine Berg, who owns Eve's Garden Bed and Breakfast in Marathon, expressed anger and dismay, stating that the local community was not being adequately informed about the ongoing construction.
"Our hearts were already broken by this, and such anger. Everyone is already doing as much as they can do (to protest.) They're not being honest with us. We don't know anything," Berg told the Daily Mail.
While U.S. Customs and Border Protection stated that construction is not occurring inside Big Bend National Park itself, it acknowledged that crews are on-site re-grading roads damaged by recent storms. These roads are necessary for access to conduct surveys, and the agency's contractor is clearing areas to support the design and survey phase before construction begins.
However, federal officials noted that construction crews are utilizing protected lands adjacent to the park to access the demolition sites. This has raised further concerns among locals about the environmental impact and the use of park resources.
Local Opposition and Economic Concerns
Residents in towns surrounding Big Bend, including Marathon, Sanderson, Alpine, Marfa, and Terlingua, have organized for months to halt the project. They fear the wall's construction will disrupt the region's economy, which relies heavily on tourism. Marathon's economy, in particular, is closely tied to the national park.
"All of the economy of Marathon is based on that park. The whole of Marathon would collapse. This is our economy. That's all there is," Berg explained. Concerns have also been raised about the potential impact on adventure tourism, such as rafting on the Rio Grande River, which forms part of the U.S.-Mexico border. The park's designation as a Gold Tier International Dark Sky Park, attracting visitors for its clear night skies, is also seen as potentially threatened by increased infrastructure.
Sheriff Thaddeus Cleveland of Sanderson, a former Border Patrol agent, has voiced his opposition, stating that the wall is unnecessary for the region. He suggested that an immigration checkpoint along remote roads would be more effective in deterring illegal immigration than a physical barrier. According to CBP figures, illegal immigrant traffic in the region constitutes a small fraction of the overall illegal traffic in the U.S.
"We don't need it," Cleveland said.
Waivers and Historical Context
The Trump administration has waived approximately 28 federal environmental laws to expedite the border wall project. This move allows for the swift construction of barriers and roads, according to a filing in the Federal Register by the Department of Homeland Security.
Previous administrations, both Republican and Democrat, had not pursued border wall construction in the Big Bend sector, largely considering the natural terrain a sufficient barrier. The proposed barrier in the park is described not as the typical tall steel bollard fence, but as a series of connected steel 'X' shapes, four to six feet in height, intended as a vehicle barrier.
Despite the ongoing construction and the widespread local opposition, residents plan to continue their fight against the wall, with a protest scheduled for Santa Elena, a well-known area within Big Bend.
"It's just a waste of of resources: taxpayer dollars, ecological resources, business people's livelihoods, ranchers' livelihood. It's not needed in this area, and there's just no way that it makes sense," said local resident Rosalina Crase.