Trump doesn’t stop and MAGA loves it!
President Donald Trump’s administration has begun construction on a major new section of the U.S.-Mexico border wall in West Texas, bringing 30-foot steel barriers to a part of the Big Bend region where the federal government’s plans have faced determined opposition.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed that border wall panels are now being installed along a roughly 47-mile section of Hudspeth County, known by the government as the Big Bend 1 project.
The construction represents another step in the administration’s broader border security program, which includes new walls, vehicle barriers, patrol roads and surveillance technology along the southern border.
It also opens a new chapter in an increasingly heated dispute involving border security, private property rights, federal authority and the future of one of the most remote regions of Texas.
Border Wall Construction Begins in West Texas
For months, preparations had been underway in the Big Bend region.
Construction equipment had been moved toward the Rio Grande, steel bollards had been delivered to staging areas, and contractors had begun preparing for the massive infrastructure project.
Now, actual wall installation has started.
CBP’s project information showed the Big Bend 1 section as under construction this week. The federal agency did not initially provide an exact date when the first panels were installed.
The Hudspeth County project involves approximately 47 miles of 30-foot-tall steel border wall.
It is part of a much larger plan for roughly 175 miles of physical barriers across portions of the Big Bend region, including sections of Hudspeth, Jeff Davis and Presidio counties.
Trump Administration Accelerates Border Wall Projects
The new construction comes as the Trump administration moves forward with a broader expansion of border infrastructure.
According to Associated Press reporting, the administration’s plans involve approximately $46 billion for border walls, barriers, roads and related technology.
CBP has said construction crews are now averaging approximately 12 miles of barriers per week across the southern border, twice the pace previously cited by CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott.
The agency also recently reported reaching approximately 200 miles of new barriers constructed since the beginning of Trump’s second administration.
The wall itself is only one piece of the government’s strategy.
Federal plans include combinations of tall steel bollard fencing, vehicle barriers, improved roads and technology designed to help Border Patrol agents detect and respond to illegal crossings and smuggling activity.
Big Bend Becomes a Major Border Wall Battleground
The decision to move into the Big Bend region is significant because the area is considerably different from many other stretches of the southern border.
Big Bend is known for its rugged mountains, desert landscapes, ranches and long stretches of sparsely populated territory.
The Border Patrol’s Big Bend Sector is responsible for more than 500 miles of international boundary along the Rio Grande, making it one of the agency’s geographically largest areas of responsibility.
The region has also historically recorded substantially fewer migrant apprehensions than some other sectors along the Southwest border. Marfa Public Radio reported that Big Bend accounted for about 1.3% of southern-border apprehensions in 2025, citing CBP data.
Those circumstances have become part of the debate over whether extensive wall construction is necessary in the region.
Supporters Point to Border Security
Supporters of expanded border infrastructure argue that physical barriers can help federal agents control entry points, slow unauthorized crossings and direct people toward locations where Border Patrol officers can respond.
The administration has made stronger immigration enforcement and additional physical barriers prominent parts of its border policy.
The government’s strategy also combines walls with surveillance equipment and roads, rather than relying on physical barriers alone.
Supporters have additionally argued that remote terrain does not eliminate the need for border enforcement and that infrastructure should be installed before migration or smuggling patterns shift.
Landowners Push Back Against Construction
Opposition remains strong among some property owners and organizations in West Texas.
Six landowners, along with the nonprofit Conserve Big Bend, filed a federal lawsuit in September challenging the administration’s border wall plans. Conserve Big Bend represents hundreds of additional area landowners.
The lawsuit challenges the federal government’s use of legal waivers intended to speed construction and seeks to stop projects across the region.
Property rights have also become an important part of the dispute because much of the Texas border runs through privately owned land.
Some landowners have declined to give federal officials and contractors permission to enter their property for surveying and other preliminary work.
Others have raised questions about how much private land could ultimately be needed for construction.
Environmental Concerns Add to the Dispute
Environmental organizations have also challenged the government’s plans.
Critics argue that building large steel barriers through undeveloped portions of West Texas could affect wildlife movement and change the region’s natural landscape.
Federal officials have used statutory waiver authority to bypass a number of environmental and historic-preservation requirements for portions of the border project, a decision that has itself become the subject of litigation.
Opponents have cited concerns involving environmental protections, archaeological resources and culturally significant locations.
The administration, meanwhile, has emphasized border enforcement and construction speed as priorities.
Big Bend National Park Project Is Separate
One important distinction involves Big Bend National Park.
The construction now taking place in Hudspeth County is separate from disputed border infrastructure work inside the national park.
Construction connected with Big Bend National Park has faced separate litigation and has been paused while legal proceedings and negotiations continue.
That pause has not prevented the government from proceeding with the Big Bend 1 wall farther west.
Billions in Border Wall Contracts Awarded
The scale of the West Texas project is substantial.
Federal contracts worth more than $3 billion have been awarded for border wall and related infrastructure across portions of the Big Bend region.
Earlier reporting identified three major projects.
Big Bend 1 stretches through Hudspeth County and involves approximately 47 miles of wall.
Big Bend 2 extends through another portion of the region toward Big Bend Ranch State Park.
Big Bend 3 covers additional territory between the other project areas.
Federal contracts for the three projects were awarded to Barnard Construction and Fisher Sand & Gravel.
Construction Preparations Have Been Underway for Months
Signs that construction was approaching had been visible throughout the summer.
In June, steel bollards resembling the planned wall panels were photographed at a staging area south of Van Horn.
CBP officials said at the time that installation of panels for the Big Bend 1 project was expected to begin in September.
Contractors were also moving heavy equipment toward the Rio Grande and preparing access routes for construction crews.
By September, those preparations had turned into active wall construction.
Local Fight Is Far From Finished
Opponents say the appearance of the first wall panels will not end their efforts.
Landowners and advocacy organizations continue to pursue lawsuits and other challenges to the project.
That means wall construction and litigation could proceed simultaneously.
The government, meanwhile, is continuing with construction where it has the legal authority and property access necessary to do so.
What Happens Next
The beginning of construction in Hudspeth County marks an important milestone for the administration’s border infrastructure plans.
What had previously consisted largely of contracts, surveys, equipment deliveries and legal disputes has now moved into the physical construction stage.
The Big Bend 1 project is expected to transform a substantial stretch of the West Texas border with new steel barriers and supporting infrastructure.
At the same time, federal courts could play an important role in determining what happens to other portions of the project, particularly where private property or challenged government waivers are involved.
For the Trump administration, the construction advances one of its highest-profile border security initiatives.
For opponents, the installation of the first panels makes the legal and political fight more urgent.
Either way, the battle over the future of the border wall in West Texas is likely to continue as construction moves forward.
