According to AFP, the administration of US President Donald Trump announced on August 17 (local time) the temporary suspension of the $1.7 billion border project at Big Bend National Park in Texas, after the project faced strong opposition from people and local officials from both parties.
Big Bend National Park is famous for its diverse ecosystem and is home to hundreds of bird species, along with lynx and black bears.
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) plans to build barricades for vehicles, patrol roads, lighting systems and detection technology in this area.
Bulldozers began construction on public land earlier this month. According to the official project map, a patrol route combined with a technology system will pass through rugged terrain, including the Mariscal Mountains area.
Opponents argue that construction here may require the use of explosives to break rocks on a large scale.
In a video posted on social network X, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Rodney Scott said that he has decided to temporarily suspend all construction activities at the park to directly assess the project, and will work with relevant parties in the locality. Mr. Scott pledged to have more updated information this week.
The Trump administration previously exempted dozens of environmental regulations and used non-competitive bidding to accelerate efforts to expand the large-scale border control system along the US-Mexico border.
The project faced opposition from people and local officials from both parties. All 14 county-level judges in Texas border areas signed an open letter, affirming their support for border security but wishing for more practical solutions.
According to CBP data, the number of migrants arrested in the Big Bend area is relatively low. From January 2024 to July 2026, functional forces recorded 9,624 arrests, significantly lower than 23,080 cases in the Swanton area on the US-Canada border in the same period.
Some environmental protection organizations have also sued the federal government to prevent the project. Although welcoming the decision to suspend construction, protesters argue that this is not yet the final victory and are concerned that the project may be restarted after the government completes the assessment.
