President Donald Trump's administration reportedly is moving ahead with a new phase of border security construction in West Texas, installing 30-foot border barriers, roads, vehicle barriers, and advanced surveillance technology near Big Bend National Park as part of its broader effort to secure the U.S.-Mexico border.
Construction is expected to begin this month in portions of the Big Bend Sector, where U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it will deploy what it calls a "Smart Wall," combining steel barriers with cameras, sensors, and improved road access in selected areas, the Washington Examiner reported.
The agency said barrier installation is anticipated in the Marfa and Van Horn regions while relying primarily on technology and natural terrain in other portions of the sector.
The project expands on the roughly 450 miles of border wall built during Trump's first administration, a cornerstone of his immigration agenda aimed at curbing illegal immigration and drug trafficking.
CBP said it is balancing security needs with preserving the area's unique landscape.
"CBP is not planning to construct a 30-foot-high barrier in Big Bend National Park, Big Bend Ranch State Park, or the Black Gap Wildlife Management Area," the agency said, adding that it will coordinate with park officials and use existing roads whenever possible.
The announcement comes after months of debate over how best to secure one of the nation's most remote border regions.
According to the Examiner, large shipments of steel wall panels have already arrived near the park in preparation for construction.
Some local landowners, conservation groups, and even Republican officials in the area have questioned the need for additional physical barriers, arguing that the rugged terrain already deters illegal crossings and that surveillance technology would be sufficient.
Charlie Angell, a Redford, Texas, landowner and river guide, told the Examiner the proposed alignment could cut through his property and restrict access to the Rio Grande.
"My home, it's my retirement, it's my backyard," Angell said, expressing concern about losing river access and the impact on his business.
CBP officials, however, said technology alone will not be the only answer.
The agency said cameras, sensors, vehicle barriers, and strategic infrastructure improvements are intended to strengthen border security while minimizing environmental disruption where possible.
Public comments on portions of the project remain open through July 13.
Supporters argue that the combination of physical barriers and advanced surveillance technology will help deter illegal immigration and enhance the Border Patrol's ability to monitor one of the country's most isolated stretches of the southern border, even as local opposition continues over where the infrastructure should be placed.