1. United States
2. Mich.
3. Letter

Stop the border construction in Big Bend National Park. Bulldozers broke ground on August 6th, plowing through native vegetation along the Rio Grande's riparian corridor — inside one of America's most irreplaceable national parks. The Department of Homeland Security waived dozens of environmental laws, including the National Park Service Organic Act and the Endangered Species Act, to push through a $1.7 billion contract. It's the first time in U.S. history the federal government has waived such sweeping environmental protections for construction inside a national park. This project doesn't even make sense on its own terms. The Big Bend Sector saw just 1.3% of total border apprehensions in 2025, and zero documented unauthorized vehicle crossings inside the park. All five sheriffs in the region oppose it, saying the natural terrain already serves as a formidable barrier. Meanwhile, Big Bend draws over 560,000 visitors a year who pump $63.7 million into the regional economy — and local outfitters say closing river access will put them out of business. The opposition here is bipartisan and broad: sheriffs, county judges, former park superintendents, and the Texas land commissioner have all pushed back. I need you to use every tool available to halt this construction, restore the waived environmental protections, and demand congressional authorization before one more acre of Big Bend is destroyed.