1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

I am writing as a Texan to urge you to take a clear and active stand against any construction of border barriers through the Big Bend region, including Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park. This issue should transcend partisanship. It is about protecting Texas land, Texas wildlife, and Texas heritage. The Big Bend region is one of the most ecologically unique and fragile landscapes in the world. Desert ecosystems are easily damaged and slow to recover, meaning construction impacts could persist for generations—or become permanent. Barrier construction along the Rio Grande would fragment habitat, sever wildlife migration corridors, and threaten vulnerable species. Research and policy analysis, including work referenced by the Cato Institute, has highlighted the ecological risks of border infrastructure in sensitive environments. Species already struggling in Texas—such as ocelots and black bears, as well as the potential return of jaguars—would face increased isolation and possible regional extinction. Smaller and less visible species would also be profoundly affected. The ecological richness of this region has been compared to globally celebrated ecosystems like the Serengeti. To knowingly damage such a landscape would represent an irreversible loss not only to Texas but to the nation and the world. Importantly, this area already bears scars from past mining and development that remain visible decades later. Those scars serve as a warning: environmental damage in desert terrain does not quickly heal. Even if future restoration efforts were attempted, recovery could take a century or more—and some losses would never be reversed. Texas leadership has a responsibility to defend Texas land and resources, regardless of federal political pressure or priorities associated with any administration, including that of Donald Trump. Protecting the Big Bend region is not a partisan issue; it is a stewardship obligation. Texans expect state leaders to stand up for our natural heritage and ensure that decisions affecting our landscapes are made with long-term ecological and cultural preservation in mind. Natural geography already creates substantial barriers in the Big Bend region. The marginal security benefits of constructed barriers do not justify permanent ecological damage. Once habitats are fragmented, species cut off from water and movement corridors, and landscapes industrialized, the loss cannot be undone within our lifetimes—and may never be undone at all. I respectfully urge you to: • Publicly oppose barrier construction in the Big Bend region • Use state authority and legal mechanisms to protect sensitive Texas lands • Advocate for cross-border ecological preservation • Prioritize conservation and stewardship over irreversible infrastructure development The Big Bend region is a national treasure, but it is also a Texas treasure. Our state’s legacy should be one of protection, courage, and stewardship—not irreversible ecological harm. I urge you to stand up for Texas and work to ensure this proposal does not move forward.