1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

I am writing to ask a question that I believe many Texans are asking: Why are you not standing up for Texas? Texas leaders often speak about protecting Texas values, defending property rights, preserving our heritage, and putting Texans first. But when it comes to large-scale border infrastructure projects along the Rio Grande and surrounding borderlands, where is that same energy to protect Texas land and Texas communities? This is not just about a wall. It is about roads, clearing, lighting, barriers, restricted access, and permanent changes to landscapes that cannot be undone. Texas has always had a deep connection to land. Whether public land or private land, Texans value stewardship, independence, access, and the belief that our land is part of who we are. The river, the borderlands, ranches, wildlife areas, parks, and communities along the Rio Grande are not disposable spaces to be industrialized. These areas contain ecosystems that are fragile, irreplaceable, and in some cases unique in all the world. Continued development risks irreparable damage to wildlife habitat, fragments migration corridors, pushes species closer to extinction, and permanently changes landscapes that belong to future generations of Texans as much as to us. Communities and businesses along the river are affected as well. Access changes. Property is altered. Local character is changed. Public and private lands are impacted. And for what? Many Texans do not see endless expansion of walls and associated infrastructure as a wise use of taxpayer money. It appears costly, disruptive, and disconnected from the people who actually live on and care for this land. Texas leaders regularly say they defend Texas against outside interference. So why are you allowing irreversible changes to one of the most distinctive landscapes in our state? Why are dark skies being sacrificed to lighting that affects wildlife and changes the character of these places? Why are new roads and barriers being prioritized over preserving the land itself? Why is access to the Rio Grande being reduced? Why are we not treating these lands as part of our Texas heritage worth protecting? Being pro-Texas should mean protecting Texas—not just talking about it. I urge you to oppose unnecessary border wall expansion and related infrastructure, protect public and private lands, preserve access to the river, safeguard wildlife and ecosystems, and stand up for the people and places that make Texas what it is.