Bulldozers have moved into Big Bend National Park in southwest Texas as part of the Trump administration’s $1.7 billion border security plan, raising fresh concerns for both immigration policy and protected federal land. While environmental groups push back, there are still ways for concerned citizens to get involved.
Earlier this month, the Center for Biological Diversity, based in Terlingua, Texas, released a statement linking to video that shows government contractors plowing through native vegetation along the Rio Grande’s riparian corridor. The statement also references an interactive map created by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which outlines plans to build vehicle barriers and patrol roads across Big Bend. According to the center, those efforts require extensive dynamite blasting that would damage the local ecosystem.
The park’s habitats support more than 1,200 species of plants, including some 60 cacti species, as well as 11 species of amphibians, 56 species of reptiles, 40 species of fish, 75 species of mammals, over 400 species of birds, and about 3,600 species of insects. Big Bend is also said to have more types of birds, bats, butterflies, ants, scorpions, and cacti than any other national park in the United States.
In June, the Department of Homeland Security controversially waived dozens of environmental laws intended to protect national parks and ecological conservation areas. That move may have cleared the way for bulldozers to begin work in Big Bend, a region that saw just 1.3% of total border apprehensions in 2025.
Still, some groups are working to slow the government’s plans. The Big Bend Protection Alliance, a nonprofit based in Texas, is accepting donations to support its work to protect the ecological and cultural integrity of the Big Bend region through education, monitoring, and public awareness. Concerned citizens can also take more direct action by contacting Congress and Texas Governor Greg Abbott as part of the National Parks Conservation Association’s “Stop Bulldozing in Big Bend” petition. If you live in Texas, the website Who Represents Me? can help you find your specific state representative.
The clock is ticking for Big Bend, but public pressure may still influence how the administration proceeds. Supporters say those who care about the park’s future should make their voices heard now.
