BREAKING: Two major developments in the fight over Big Bend
Today is a critical moment for Big Bend
Two major developments today have put the future of Big Bend and the broader border region back in the spotlight. Senator John Cornyn has published a new op-ed advocating against border wall construction in the region, meanwhile the U.S. Supreme Court has lifted the injunction, which will now allow DHS to move forward with border wall construction in Big Bend National Park and the surrounding Big Bend Sector.
1. Senator John Cornyn Publishes Op-Ed Opposing the Big Bend Border Wall
In a significant political development, Senator John Cornyn has publicly come out against the proposed border wall in Big Bend, making the case that the region's unique geography and historically low crossing numbers call for a different approach to border security.
In his November 9 op-ed for the San Antonio Express-News, Cornyn points to the Big Bend Sector's 1.3% share of total border apprehensions in FY2025, its difficult natural terrain, and the potential consequences of wall construction for private property, local economies, wildlife, and culturally significant sites. He also raises questions about the $7.5 billion DHS has awarded for border wall and related infrastructure projects in the sector.
His public opposition is an important development and underscores the growing recognition that a one-size-fits-all border wall strategy is not appropriate for every part of the border.
2. Supreme Court lifts injunction, clearing the way for border wall construction
In a major setback for efforts to protect the region, today the U.S. Supreme Court lifted the injunction that had temporarily halted border barrier construction across the Big Bend Sector.
The unsigned order allows the Trump administration to resume construction of barriers and surveillance infrastructure along a 500-mile stretch of the southern border while the underlying legal challenge continues. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson noted a dissent.
The decision pauses an October ruling by a federal judge in El Paso, who had found that the challengers' legal case was likely to succeed on at least one claim. The lawsuit was brought by a coalition that includes a church preservation group, a river guide, and an environmental organization.
Construction had already begun near Santa Elena Canyon, where crews cleared more than a mile of ground in preparation for an access road, surveillance technology, and four- to six-foot vehicle barriers.
The implications for Big Bend are significant. The proposed infrastructure threatens to fundamentally alter the region's landscape, restrict river access, impact private ranchlands, and threaten irreplaceable ecological, historical, and cultural resources.
Importantly, this is not a final ruling on the legality of the administration's plans. The underlying lawsuit will continue, but construction can now move forward in the meantime.
Read the New York Times coverage
What's next & how to help:
These developments underscore the importance of continued public attention, regional coordination, and accountability as decisions about the future of the Big Bend region move forward.
Follow @nobigbendwall on Instagram to stay connected to what's happening on the ground and call, email, and write Senator Cornyn to thank him for speaking up for Big Bend and ask him to use his remaining months in office to take a strong stand for our region, and let protecting Big Bend be his legacy.