1. United States
2. Colo.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to restore congressional carve-outs that protect Big Bend and other environmentally and culturally sensitive areas from border wall construction. The One Big Beautiful Bill passed in 2025 allocated over $46 billion for border wall construction but removed protections that Congress had maintained for years, opening areas like Big Bend, Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, and historic sites to destructive construction. These carve-outs existed for sound reasons. Big Bend and similar protected areas are not high-traffic zones for illegal border crossings, as confirmed by Border Patrol's constant monitoring. Building walls in these locations prioritizes symbolism over effective border security while causing irreversible damage to irreplaceable natural and cultural resources. The economic impact is substantial. Nature tourism in south Texas generates over $700 million annually according to a 2022 University of Texas Rio Grande Valley report. Border wall construction through these areas threatens this economic engine that supports local communities and businesses. The Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge alone is recognized as one of the nation's premier bird-watching destinations, drawing visitors from across the country. The environmental consequences are equally severe. Santa Ana represents one of the last remnants of a dense jungle ecosystem, with approximately 95% of this habitat already lost to farmland over the last century. Border wall construction would fragment remaining wildlife corridors, disrupt migration patterns, and damage ecosystems that cannot be recreated. The planned construction also threatens historic sites like La Lomita Chapel and the National Butterfly Center. Congressman Henry Cuellar successfully secured these protections years ago because federal law recognized these areas deserve special consideration. As current negotiations over Immigration and Customs Enforcement reforms continue in Congress, I urge you to restore the border wall carve-outs for Big Bend, Santa Ana, and other protected areas. Effective border security and environmental conservation are not mutually exclusive, and these specific locations warrant continued protection.