The Texas Rivers Protection Association is proud to join over 140 Texas businesses urging US Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz and Texas Governor Greg Abbott to stop the construction of needless border barriers and haphazard roadway construction within Big Bend National Park.
The federal plans, offered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) per their “Smart Wall Map” webpage, are currently being implemented by several no-bid, out-of-state contractors, who are actively pursuing construction for DHS’ “border barrier system” in several locations throughout the Big Bend region.
TRPA has been appalled by the lack of transparency on the ongoing project and by the lack of precautions and protections on natural and cultural resources within the project’s footprint. We are appalled by the presence of bulldozers operating at the very mouth of Santa Elena Canyon at the very put-in and recreational access point that millions of visitors and recreationists use to enjoy the many wonders of the Big Bend of the Rio Grande.
The construction of border barriers in this region, where no “dangerous border issues” or threats exist, would be a colossal waste of taxpayer funds in the billions of dollars and would be deeply offensive to Texans and visitors from around the world who visit and love the Big Bend. We call on others to demand that John Cornyn, Ted Cruz, and Governor Abbott stand up for Texas and our public lands and waterways.
Read the whole letter here.
Read the San Antonio Current’s write-up on the letter here.
