FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 10, 2026
Contact: Jordan Goodrich, jordan.goodrich@sierraclub.org
Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter Calls on More Texas Leaders to Oppose Trump’s Big Bend Border Wall Construction
AUSTIN, Texas – In response to the Trump Administration’s Monday decision to waive dozens of federal environmental preservation laws to advance border wall and infrastructure construction through Big Bend National Park and other borderlands in the region, the Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter is calling on more Texas elected officials — including Gov. Greg Abbott and state legislators — to publicly oppose the project. This announcement follows Congress infusing another $70 billion to implement militarized immigration enforcement, three times the current annual budget with minimal oversight, and $27 billion earmarked for Customs and Border Patrol.
“Now more than ever, we need every Texan to call their member of Congress – and Texas leaders like Gov. Abbott to do the same," said Dave Cortez, Director of the Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter. "Texans have loudly rejected the idea of a border barrier and other construction in these areas. Congressman Lloyd Doggett wrote a letter condemning border wall construction that was signed by over a dozen other members of Congress. While millions of Americans struggle with the rising cost of gas and groceries, President Trump is pouring billions of dollars into destroying some of the most extraordinary landscapes in North America. By waiving environmental protections to build unnecessary roads and surveillance infrastructure in West Texas, the Trump Administration is threatening the regional economic engine and the very natural resources millions of Texans and tourists alike cherish.
“Imagine visiting Big Bend and not being able to canoe, raft, fish, or hike through the magnificent canyons without navigating bright lights, razor wire, steel walls, and surveillance towers. Texans across race, class, and the political spectrum value Big Bend for its natural beauty, cultural heritage, outdoor recreation, and economic importance to surrounding communities,” Cortez said. “State leaders must align with the people of Texas and reject the efforts to sacrifice one of our state's greatest treasures for a project that offers little public benefit while causing generational harm."
The border wall and infrastructure construction would happen in West Texas, from Lake Amistad through Big Bend and into pristine wilderness in Hudspeth County. To date, the Sierra Club has collected thousands of signatures opposing the wall. The Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter will continue collaborating with local communities, organizations, and public officials to protect Big Bend National Park, Big Bend Ranch State Park, and other lands in the region.
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