All articles tagged with #big bend national park
A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction on October 2, 2026, halting all border barrier construction in Texas’s Big Bend region. The ruling voids federal waivers that allowed the administration to bypass environmental laws, marking a significant legal setback for the Trump administration’s $46 billion border infrastructure project.
U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone issued a preliminary injunction on October 2, 2026, halting all border barrier construction in Texas's Big Bend region. The order stops 'ground-disturbing activities' within one mile of the Rio Grande and inside Big Bend National Park until the lawsuit is resolved. The ruling also voids federal waivers that allowed the administration to bypass environmental and cultural resource laws. The decision follows months of bipartisan opposition and comes after the first wall panels were erected in mid-September.
U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone issued a preliminary injunction halting border barrier construction in the Big Bend region, ruling that the plaintiffs' constitutional claims were likely to succeed. The order stops 'ground-disturbing activities' in the national park and surrounding areas while the lawsuit proceeds. The Center for Biological Diversity filed the suit in April on behalf of local landowners and environmental groups, arguing the five contracted projects violate separation of powers and deprive citizens of property. Although the Big Bend sector accounts for only 1% to 3% of migrant apprehensions, the Trump administration has pursued a $7.5 billion infrastructure expansion, waiving environmental laws to expedite construction. This ruling follows a separate temporary pause secured by residents in San Ygnacio, Texas, who challenged federal claims to private riverfront land.
A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction stopping border barrier construction in Big Bend National Park, while residents of San Ygnacio, Texas, secured a verbal halt to wall building on private land through legal challenges and direct action.
A federal judge in San Antonio extended a temporary halt on new ground-disturbing work tied to border-security construction around Big Bend National Park through Sept. 15 while attorneys from the plaintiffs and government discuss protections and impacts; the pause blocks dirt-moving during that period, and the case centers on whether DHS’s waivers of environmental and historic preservation laws were valid and whether the National Park Service’s authority remains intact to challenge or halt work in the park. The court will reconvene Sept. 15 for further proceedings, with on-the-ground evaluation by CBP still anticipated.
The Trump administration has paused construction of its border wall through Big Bend National Park after earthmoving equipment arrived and amid bipartisan criticism; CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott said he would personally review the project and consult local stakeholders, while noting the plan included limited infrastructure such as an access road and detection tech and had involved environmental waivers. The pause comes as the Big Bend sector, though remote and environmentally sensitive, accounts for a small share of national border apprehensions.
CBP paused Big Bend construction for an on-site review after heavy equipment began moving dirt, as lawmakers and locals weigh border security against protecting the park.
A bipartisan group of 43 Texas lawmakers sent a letter to Gov. Abbott urging him to press the federal government to halt border barrier construction in Big Bend National Park, citing concerns about effectiveness, cost, and local landscapes. CBP says the work involves surveillance and infrastructure rather than a 30-foot wall, while a Republican lawmaker warns the GOP could face electoral backlash for not publicly opposing the project. Protests near Big Bend and cautious comments from DHS add to the controversy over border security plans in the region.
Bulldozers are moving through Big Bend National Park as part of a broader, multimillion-dollar border-wall effort, despite the area’s low unauthorized crossing rate. The $1.72 billion park project sits within a larger $46.5 billion border-security plan, drawing sharp criticism from conservationists, former park leaders, and local officials who warn of environmental damage, disruption to tourism, and eroded trust in public lands. Protests have emerged, while some politicians push for cheaper tech-based security instead of physical barriers.
Alamosaurus, North America's largest land dinosaur at 21 meters long, was recently studied through a vertebra discovery in Big Bend National Park, shedding light on its size, habitat, and migration patterns during the Late Cretaceous period, and contributing to understanding the prehistoric ecosystem and dinosaur evolution.
A hiker named Christy Perry, 25, who had been missing in Big Bend National Park since November 9, has been found safe and rescued by a highly skilled search and rescue team. Perry, who had traveled from Houston to the park, did not show up at her campsite and her vehicle was located at the trailhead of the park's Lost Mine Trail. After over a week of searching, she was found and is now under medical care.
Brewster Ranches, a 424,000-acre ranch near Big Bend National Park in Texas, is currently listed for sale at $268 million, making it the most expensive and largest property for sale in the state. The ranch can be purchased as a whole or as seven smaller ranches, ranging in price from $10.2 million to $72 million. The property features mountain summits, natural water features, and diverse wildlife. It was assembled over the years by Brad Kelley, a Kentucky native and son of a farmer who made his fortune from discount cigarettes.
An Orlando man and his stepson died while hiking the Marufo Vega Trail at Big Bend National Park in West Texas. The 14-year-old stepson became sick and lost consciousness during the hike, which took place in temperatures of 119 degrees Fahrenheit. The father hiked back to the vehicle while the older stepson tried to carry the boy back to the trailhead. The older stepson was able to hitchhike to a park ranger's house to find help, but the 14-year-old died. Park rangers later found the father's vehicle crashed over an embankment at an overlook, where he was pronounced dead.
A 14-year-old boy died while hiking in Big Bend National Park, Texas, due to extreme heat. His stepfather hiked back to get help but died in a car crash on the way. The 21-year-old brother attempted to carry his brother back to the trailhead. The deaths are part of a brutal Texas heat wave entering its third week, with temperatures hitting at least 111 degrees. The park remains under an extreme heat advisory, with temperatures forecast to reach over 110 degrees each day.
A Florida man and his 14-year-old stepson died while hiking the Marufo Vega Trail in Big Bend National Park, Texas, in extreme heat. The 31-year-old man had been hiking with his two stepsons, ages 14 and 21, when the 14-year-old became sick and lost consciousness. The stepfather hiked back to his vehicle while the boy’s older brother tried to carry him back to the trailhead. The 14-year-old died, and authorities later found the father's vehicle had crashed over an embankment at Boquillas Overlook, where he was pronounced dead. The park service warns hikers to be off the trails in the afternoon, stay hydrated, and limit exposure.