From Newsweek · · 3m
Border Wall Progress Map Shows New Work
New border wall panels installed in West Texas mark start of 47.3-mile Big Bend project.
In brief
New border wall panels installed in West Texas mark start of 47.3-mile Big Bend project. CBP begins 47.3-mile Big Bend 1 border wall project in Hudspeth County with 232.4 miles of barriers completed since January 2025. Originally reported by Newsweek.
New border wall panels installed
New panels for the border wall are being installed in West Texas, marking the start of visible construction on a 47.3-mile project in the Big Bend region as President Donald Trump’s administration expands its barrier network along the southern border.
First panels go up September 15
U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the first panels for the Big Bend 1 project in Hudspeth County went up on September 15.
Mileage updated September 16
CBP told Newsweek that panels installed at Big Bend 1 by September 16 were already included in the national completed-mileage figure.
Smart Wall map shows progress
The development gives new significance to CBP’s Smart Wall map, which records 232.4 miles of new primary, replacement primary, secondary and waterborne barriers completed since January 20, 2:025.
Legal challenges and landowner concerns
Work is beginning amid legal challenges and resistance from landowners concerned about the federal government’s plans for the remote region.
Landowner opposition estimates
No Big Bend Wall Coalition estimates 400 landowners hold title to properties with Rio Grande frontage where CBP is looking to obtain rights to construct more wall.
Landowner concerns about tourism
Clara Bensen, communications director for No Big Bend Wall Coalition, said border barriers will corrupt the draw of this landscape for tourists who come to see the pristine environment and the Milky Way.
Native communities affected
Bensen noted many native people still live in the area, and a wall may disrupt their livelihoods and bulldoze sacred and historic sites along the river.
Big Bend 1 project details
Big Bend 1 is one component of CBP’s plan for approximately 175 miles of primary barrier across Hudspeth, Jeff Davis and Presidio counties.
Construction progress in West Texas
Work has moved forward first near Sierra Blanca, east of El Paso, with two other primary wall projects covering 62.2 miles and 56.3 miles respectively.
Legal challenges to construction
A coalition of West Texas landowners filed a federal lawsuit shortly before the construction update to stop projects across the region.
What happens next
The immediate questions are whether construction extends beyond parcels available to the government, how pending litigation affects the schedule, and when remaining Big Bend sections advance.
The headline
CBP begins 47.3-mile Big Bend 1 border wall project in Hudspeth County with 232.4 miles of barriers completed since January 2025.
