U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott said Monday that he has paused construction activity in Big Bend National Park and is traveling to the park to personally evaluate the work and meet with local stakeholders and law enforcement.
Scott said he had landed in Texas and was heading to Big Bend National Park after ordering the pause Sunday night.
“Last night, I put a pause on all activity in that park, as far as construction goes, till I can get down there and do a personal evaluation, talk to some stakeholders, talk to local law enforcement in that area,” Scott said.
Scott said more information would follow later this week.
The announcement comes amid growing scrutiny of federal border infrastructure work in the Big Bend region, including construction activity involving heavy equipment in remote areas of the national park.
Scott did not say how long the pause would remain in effect or whether the review could result in changes to the planned work.
His announcement makes clear that construction is being halted while he travels to Big Bend to assess the situation firsthand.
I just drove up 118 from Terlingua to Alpine at 9am Tuesday, the 18th. There is absolutely no pause in activity. The staging area north of the Terlingua Ranch turnoff was a beehive of activity with tractor trailers and heavy equipment heading South. Also saw 10 more trailers with construction equipment on my way to Alpine