Big Bend region

The Trump administration waived the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 to expedite border wall construction in the Big Bend region of Texas, responding to a lawsuit filed by the Presidio Municipal Development District. The plaintiffs argue the wall threatens flood safety by altering a levee system without required interagency coordination.

Officials in the Big Bend region are requesting U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Joint Task Force Southern Border to remove concertina wire placed along the Rio Grande in a floodplain in Presidio, Texas. The request is based on public safety concerns.

Officials in the Big Bend region are requesting U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Joint Task Force Southern Border to remove concertina wire installed along the Rio Grande in a floodplain in Presidio, Texas, due to public safety concerns during flooding.

The Trump administration plans to build over 100 miles of steel border wall through the Big Bend region in West Texas, waiving environmental protections. Local journalists, including Sam Karas of The Big Bend Sentinel, uncovered details about the project through contract filings and resident reports, becoming a critical source of information for the rural community. The article highlights challenges in rural Texas news access, with many counties lacking local newspapers.

The Trump administration has awarded over $9 billion in border wall contracts, with Fisher Sand & Gravel and Barnard Construction receiving approximately 73% of the contract value. The awards have drawn scrutiny from a competing contractor and raise concerns about transparency and procurement practices, echoing controversies from Trump's first term.