Big Bend border wall debate heads to Austin as advocates urge protection of land

AUSTIN, Texas — Texans from across the state traveled to Austin on Wednesday to urge Texas Parks and Wildlife commissioners to protect public land in the Big Bend region as the debate over border security-related construction continues.

Ahead of the public hearing at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), advocates held what they called a “Texas Tailgate,” arriving with signs and flags bearing messages calling for the preservation of Big Bend.

Ann Dudley, of Austin, arrived with a photograph of one of her many visits to Big Bend.

“I passed by this picture; it sits on my counter, and never once have I ever said, ‘Oh wow, we need more roads and walls in this,’” Dudley said.

John Ferguson, mayor of Presidio, Texas, traveled nearly 500 miles to Austin to attend Wednesday’s hearing. He said his goal is long-term protection of Big Bend.

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“We want to just preserve the Big Bend area for all the generations that are going to follow,” he said.

A crowd filled the agency’s headquarters for the annual opportunity for the public to address commissioners directly, raising ecological and economic concerns about construction in the area.

“Big Bend is sacred to Texans,” one speaker said.

The commission’s chairman, Paul Foster, told speakers he and the commission agree with those speaking against border wall construction through the area and are in communication with the governor’s office.

“I doubt we’re going to have a lot of speakers who are going to stand up speaking for a border barrier,” Foster said.

The controversy at Big Bend has centered on border security versus environmental preservation. This week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott said Big Bend construction is on hold.

“I put a pause on all activity in that park, as far as construction goes, until I can get down there and do a personal evaluation,” Scott said in a social media video.

According to CBP data, there were 3,096 apprehensions for illegal border crossings in the Big Bend sector in FY 2025, out of 237,538 reported along the entire U.S.-Mexico Border.

Gov. Greg Abbott told reporters this week he has been assured a physical border is not going up. Even so, advocates are pressing state leaders to permanently protect land in the area, citing Parks and Wildlife code.

Dawn Obermoeller said Big Bend’s “rugged uniqueness” is what draws people to protect it. “It is a stunning location,” Obermoeller said.

Advocates said they are hopeful but cautious about the pause in construction.

Calls to protect Big Bend have been bipartisan, including requests for the federal government to reconsider construction from Republican Sen. John Cornyn and Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico.