Wall construction starts in Big Bend

The Trump administration has begun installing 30-foot steel wall panels in a 47-mile stretch of Hudspeth County in west Texas, marking the first major construction in an area where plans have faced heavy opposition.

46 billion dollar border plan accelerates

The administration is building an average of 12 miles of barriers per week across the 2,000-mile Mexico border, double the pace from earlier this year, as part of a $46 billion plan to add walls, barriers, roads and technology.

Big Bend region faces heavy opposition

Landowners, environmental groups, ranchers and business owners say the remote Big Bend area sees little illegal immigration and argue the wall threatens the landscape, tourism, and private property rights.

Coalition vows to continue fighting

Clara Benson of the No Big Bend Wall Coalition said the group will keep opposing the project despite construction starting, with supporters saying they will fight to remove the wall even if it's built.

“We will continue to fight for this land no matter what the outcome is. We will continue fighting to the end.”

Landowners refuse access to surveyors

Many private landowners have refused to allow government officials or contractors onto their property to survey it, and activists have pressured county officials not to cooperate with wall construction contractors.

Legal challenge filed against wall plans

Earlier this week, landowners, ranchers, business owners and a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the Big Bend region sued to stop the administration's wall construction plans.

Park construction temporarily suspended

The administration has temporarily halted construction in Big Bend National Park as an outreach effort to opponents, while continuing work in the surrounding 500-mile Big Bend region outside the park.