A senior U.S. Customs and Border Protection official told lawmakers Wednesday that the Trump administration does not plan to build a continuous border wall through the Big Bend region, instead relying on a combination of vehicle barriers and surveillance technology across much of the area.
Testifying before Congress, CBP official Pete Mullin said some physical barriers will be installed along the border, but large stretches of the region would be covered by what the administration calls a “smart fence.”
“We’re going to put a physical barrier in,” Mullin said. “The rest will be smart fence, so there won’t be a constant barrier across there.”
The administration defines a smart fence as a combination of surveillance technology, patrol roads and high-powered lighting designed to detect and monitor border crossings without constructing a continuous wall.
The comments come amid growing opposition to border construction plans in the Big Bend region, where conservation groups, ranchers, property owners, tourism advocates and local officials have raised concerns about the impact on one of Texas’ most remote and ecologically significant landscapes.
Earlier this month, U.S. Customs and Border Protection disclosed plans to install approximately 17 miles of vehicle barriers in and around Big Bend National Park. Federal officials say the project is intended to prevent smugglers and traffickers from driving off-road vehicles through remote sections of the border to access the Rio Grande.
According to CBP, the proposed barriers would differ significantly from traditional border walls. The structures would consist of metal posts about four feet high connected by a continuous crossbeam. Officials say the design is intended to block vehicles while still allowing wildlife movement and pedestrian access.
During the hearing, U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso, urged federal officials to exercise caution in the Big Bend region, describing it as a uniquely sensitive area that has united an unlikely coalition of stakeholders.
“We have seen a coalition of law enforcement, private property owners, ranchers and nature lovers come together to want to preserve and protect Big Bend,” Escobar said.
Escobar also raised concerns about construction near Mount Cristo Rey, a Catholic pilgrimage site visited by worshippers from both sides of the border.
Mullin said a gate would be incorporated into the project to allow access for religious pilgrims while maintaining border security measures.
“We’re working with that sensitive area best we can,” Mullin said. “But we can’t leave it open because it’s a high-traffic area. It’s not perfect, but it’s manageable.”
The testimony appears to signal a shift from earlier fears that a traditional border wall could cut through portions of the Big Bend region. While federal officials continue moving forward with barrier projects, Mullin’s comments suggest the administration intends to rely heavily on surveillance technology and vehicle barriers rather than a continuous wall across the area.
