Save Big Bend National Park from DHS

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the Department of Homeland Security's border construction project at Big Bend National Park. While I am relieved that the proposed 30-foot wall has been removed from federal plans, the construction now underway—including access roads, vehicle barriers, and detection technology—poses an equally serious threat to one of our nation's most irreplaceable landscapes. Big Bend spans over 800,000 acres of fragile desert ecosystem and serves as a refuge for wildlife and plant life that define the region's natural heritage. The planned patrol road along much of the park's 118-mile border boundary and the installation of four- to six-foot vehicle barriers would sever access to the Rio Grande River and disrupt the natural migration and survival patterns of more than 450 bird species, 67 reptile and amphibian species, and over 1,200 plant species that depend on this delicate habitat. The urgency of this project is particularly troubling given the actual security conditions on the ground. Fewer than six migrants a day have been encountered crossing from Mexico in recent months across the entire Big Bend patrol sector. As former Big Bend park ranger Michael Ryan stated at a recent protest, "They're taking taxpayer dollars to ruin this national park." This construction squanders public resources to solve a problem that, by the government's own data, barely exists in this remote region. Beyond its ecological importance, Big Bend holds deep cultural and recreational value for Texans and all Americans. Building infrastructure here would fragment wilderness, destroy scenic vistas, and contradict decades of conservation work that have made Big Bend a symbol of environmental stewardship. Big Bend is on my bucket list of National Parks to visit—please take steps to ensure that it will continue to exist for future generations. I urge you to halt this destructive project immediately. Support alternative border security measures that respect both our nation's safety and its natural treasures. Big Bend should remain protected and accessible for the future—not scarred by barriers that divide rather than preserve. Thank you for your time and for standing up for the people and landscapes that make our country extraordinary.