Go behind the scenes with executive editor Vernon Loeb and reporter Martha Pskowski as they discuss plans for a border wall through Texas’ biggest state park and one of the jewels of the national park system.
Building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border has been a signature issue for President Donald Trump since he first ran for office in 2016. Now, plans for a wall through the Big Bend region of West Texas are raising alarms with residents and officials alike.
Last week the Department of Homeland Security waived 28 laws that protect the environment and preserve local history in order to speed up construction. The consequences of such construction may be severe. If the wall is erected, says a noted archaeologist in the region, “One of our most beloved national parks and our state’s largest park will be scarred beyond repair.”
Martha, who reports on Texas for ICN and visited Big Bend for this reporting, describes the impact a wall would have on wildlife and habitats, what makes the wall “smart,” and if there’s anything that can save Big Bend from this plan.
Watch the videoRead the storyExplore ICN’s reporting on Texas