Local & State
Bipartisan Texas lawmakers push back on border construction near Big Bend National Park
PN Team • 2 months ago
A bipartisan group of 43 Texas House members, including three Republicans, sent Gov. Greg Abbott a letter urging him to press the Trump administration to halt border barrier construction activity in and around Big Bend National Park. The letter followed protests this week after heavy equipment was seen clearing vegetation in the park.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection says it does not plan to build a 30-foot wall through the park but is preparing a broader infrastructure project involving patrol roads, detection technology, and vehicle barriers. The Department of Homeland Security disputed media characterizations of the work as "fearmongering," saying crews are conducting survey and design work, not construction.
Republican state Rep. Wes Virdell, one of the letter's signatories, warned the issue could hurt his party in South Texas during the midterms if GOP leaders don't speak out. Abbott's office has not directly responded to the lawmakers' request but noted "rugged, isolated areas" present opportunities for technology-based border security.
Sources:
Sentiment
- Greg Abbott Abbott is criticized for not directly responding to lawmakers' concerns, implying inaction on a sensitive issue.
- Republican Party (United States) Republican lawmakers are shown breaking with party lines over border construction concerns, highlighting internal tension.
- Texas Texas is the setting for a political dispute but is portrayed neutrally as the location of the story.