Border chief defends barrier plan to keep national park ‘safe, secure, and pristine’
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott defended a $1.7 billion infrastructure project in Big Bend National Park, claiming it is necessary to secure the area against cartel activity.
- Scott clarified that the agency is not building a 30-foot wall or installing stadium lighting, but rather conducting survey work for scaled-back barriers and smart fencing.
- Local officials and environmental advocates strongly oppose the plan, arguing there is no demonstrated need for barriers and warning that the infrastructure will damage the wilderness.
- Critics, including the Center for Biological Diversity, highlighted that 17 miles of planned vehicle barriers could block public access to the Rio Grande.
- Weekly protests are underway as construction equipment begins clearing land, with activists demanding transparency and an immediate pause to the project.
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