Contractors spotted working in Big Bend National Park today
Howdy,
Today was a hard day in the timeline of this “smart wall” fight. Over the last week, contractors have been much more visible in the BBT-4 area of the Big Bend Sector. In the last week, a new staging area/workforce (“man“) camp popped up off Highway 118, RV’s have rolled into the Terlingua ghost town and, as of today, we’ve documented contractors starting work in the national park.
Despite the bad news, we believe this fight is far from over. Here are the full updates & how you can help right now:
Texas Outfitters, Businesses Urge Cornyn, Cruz, Abbott to Protect River Access, Halt Border Construction
More than 140 outfitters, local businesses and recreation groups today urged Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz and Gov. Greg Abbott to protect public access to the Rio Grande and oppose Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) plans to build steel border barriers across nearly every river access point along the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River through Big Bend National Park.
Contractors spotted working in Big Bend National Park
Today, folks in Big Bend National Park documented workers at Cottonwood Campground and Castolon. The most action that was seen in the park today was actually on Glenn Springs road. Contractors were documented grading the existing road.
Thanks to concerted efforts, we were able to document and disseminate the info quickly, and a new article in the Sentinel pulled a lot of the pieces together.
CBP Comment Period for BBT-5 is open until August 31
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is planning to construct and maintain vehicle barrier system and roads in Brewster, Terrell, and Val Verde Counties, Texas.
The planned action includes the construction and maintenance of approximately:
157 miles of non-contiguous border barrier system in Brewster, Terrell, and Val Verde Counties, Texas. Barrier system includes a physical barrier, road, and barrier system attributes. The barrier system for this project will utilize vehicle barrier rather than bollard-style pedestrian barrier. The vehicle barrier will feature steel posts supported by continuous steel rails, with alternating rail heights of approximately 4 and 6 feet, and rails spaced about 4 feet apart. Barrier system attributes may include, as appropriate to U.S. Border Patrol’s operational needs, fiber optic cables, utility poles, power cables, surveillance cameras, access and patrol roads and utility shelters along the international border.
Email comments to: [email protected].
Subject line: Big Bend Vehicle Border Barrier System Construction
Comments may also be submitted to CBP by calling (833) 412-2056 or by mailing the following address:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
U.S. Border Patrol Headquarters
Program Management Office Directorate
1300 Pennsylvania Ave. 6.5E Mail Stop 1039
Washington, DC 20229-1100
ATTN: Michelle Barnes
Other ways you can help right now:
- Contact Senators Cornyn & Cruz, and Gov. Abbott
- Share / amplify on socials
- Sign the TPWD letter
- Donate: https://epcf.org/nobigbendwall
We will continue updating as soon as we have verified info and new calls to action. Thank y’all for being here.
For the Rio! 💪🏼
Team No Big Bend Wall
“Hope locates itself in the premises that we don’t know what will happen and that in the spaciousness of uncertainty is room to act.” - Rebecca Solnit, Hope in the Dark
