Cornyn calls on DHS to listen to Texans on Big Bend wall construction

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(The Center Square) – The Trump administration is bulldozing through Big Bend National Park despite thousands of Texans, including Republicans, ranchers, small business owners, sheriffs, county judges and former National Park Service superintendents calling on it to stop. 

More than 140 outfitters, recreation-based organizations and local businesses called on Gov. Greg Abbott and U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn to urge the Trump administration to stop “the needless construction of physical border barriers” in the park. On Tuesday, Cornyn responded and acted.

Border wall and barrier construction will cause “irreversible harm to public recreation, rural economies, wildlife, cultural resources and Texas’ natural heritage,” the groups argue.

A bipartisan coalition of elected sheriffs and judges remain opposed to border wall construction, including all five sheriffs and all 14 border county judges, arguing technology is a better approach, The Center Square reported.

Seven former Big Bend superintendents, with a combined 259 years of National Park Service experience, have repeatedly called on the Department of Homeland Security to rescind dozens of waivers that were issued to advance construction. 

Then DHS Secretary Kristi Noem first signed dozens of waivers to ignore federal and state laws to advance border wall and barrier construction. They eliminate all protections for migratory birds and other animals unique to the region, national historic preservation and Native American grave protections, eliminated clean air and water and energy independence protections as well as protections for the American Eagle, The Center Square reported. 

DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin also signed a waiver of all federal, state and local laws and regulations related to preserving environmental and cultural preservation. Former National Park superintendents said doing so was “devastating” and won’t result in border security. “It is still possible to enhance border security in Big Bend National Park without destroying what makes it one of America’s most treasured landscapes,” they said. 

His waiver allows for the installation of physical barriers, 205 miles of new roads up to 24 feet wide, among other measures including lighted utility poles in an area “which sees absolutely no illegal entries,” the superintendents argue.

Of Mullin, they said, “You now seem to believe you have unlimited authority and no legal accountability. While we wish it were otherwise, we nonetheless appeal to your patriotism and commitment to the full range of what makes America great by doing everything possible to minimize unnecessary impacts to Big Bend National Park. A secure border and conserving America’s natural and cultural resources do not have to be in conflict.”

The former superintendents also point to CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott claiming in May that “CBP will not build a border wall inside Big Bend National Park on the U.S.-Mexico border following blowback from local residents,” questioning “whether any statements put out by DHS or CBP officials can be relied upon.”

Federal contractors are now plowing through native vegetation along the Rio Grande’s riparian corridor, with the Santa Elena Canyon visible in the background. According to CBP plans, dynamite will be used to blast through Mariscal Mountain to build border barriers “in remote walled canyons where no unauthorized vehicle crossings have been documented and where vehicles cannot access the border with Mexico,” the Center for Biological Diversity argues. It and others sued the administration to stop destruction of the park. 

“The administration is preparing to blast hundreds of miles of destructive roads through the wildest place left in Texas and cut off public access to the Rio Grande, all to enrich private contractors,” Laiken Jordahl, national public lands advocate at the center said. “Big Bend belongs to us all, and sacrificing it is a betrayal of every Texan and every American who believes our national parks should be protected.”

The Texas General Land Office also just directed federal contractors to stop destroying state land to build a border barrier, arguing doing so is illegal, The Center Square reported. 

On Tuesday, Cornyn urged Mullin in a letter to listen to “Texas stakeholders’ concerns on federal plans to construct physical border barriers in Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park.” He also urged DHS to meet with Texans directly “to discuss their concerns before any additional construction activity occurs at the parks.” 

“In the past, communications between DHS and state and local leaders have occurred, but it appears the level of coordination and communication related to proposed construction in the Big Bend region has not been as fulsome as in previous years,” Cornyn said. He also added that the county judges haven’t received a response to requests they made in April. 

“The requests from local officials and community leaders for coordination and communication appear very reasonable to me and I would ask that you or your designees meet with Texas stakeholders directly to discuss their concerns before proceeding with any additional construction of physical barriers” in the park, he said. 

Mullin, Abbott and Cruz did not respond to requests for comment. Attorney General Ken Paxton, who sued the Biden administration dozens of times over border barriers, hasn’t weighed in. His Senate challenger, state Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, has.

“God already built a wall through Big Bend – it's called the Chisos Mountains. We don't need to give billions of our tax dollars to out of state vendors. We don't need to desecrate this sacred land. We don't need this useless, disgraceful, corrupt Big Bend border wall,” he said.