The Trump administration has authorized new border wall construction in South Texas, waiving dozens of environmental and public health protections to speed the project through a federally protected wildlife refuge.
The Trump administration has paved the path for the construction of a new border wall in South Texas. This decision involves the waiving of over 30 environmental and public health regulations, aiming to fast-track the project through areas of a federally protected wildlife refuge.
The directive, released by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, permits the construction of wall segments spanning 13 areas within the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge, located in Starr and Hidalgo counties. The waiver exempts the requirement to comply with various laws, including the Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and National Historic Preservation Act.
“It is particularly harsh to isolate national wildlife refuges that were established for conservation,” stated Laiken Jordahl, a southwest conservation advocate with the Center for Biological Diversity. "We should not destroy these lands for the construction of Trump's wall, as they serve to safeguard endangered species and link fragmented habitats."
Established in 1979, the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge plays a crucial role in safeguarding biodiversity along the last 75 miles of the Rio Grande. It connects isolated areas managed by state, nonprofit, and private landowners, alongside the Santa Ana and Laguna Atascosa refuges. Experts warn that the wall poses a significant risk to the habitats of endangered species such as ocelots and aplomado falcons, as well as to numerous migratory birds, including green jays and Altamira orioles. Unique flora, such as the Texas ayenia and Zapata bladderpod, may face potential threats.
The Department of Homeland Security reported over 1.5 million apprehensions of undocumented immigrants in the Rio Grande Valley sector from fiscal years 2021 to 2025, using this figure to justify the waiver. However, the agency did not provide a detailed account of encounters that occurred within refuge lands.
Recent data from Customs and Border Protection reveal that migrant encounters in the sector fell below 1,000 per month during June and July, representing a substantial decrease compared to previous years.
“The order asserts that under the President's leadership, the Department of Homeland Security has achieved the most secure border in history.” “There is a greater need for action.”
The Secure Fence Act of 2006 empowers the Department of Homeland Security with extensive authority to bypass federal regulations, facilitating the expedited construction of the border wall. While past administrations have exercised this authority, conservation groups warn that circumventing environmental protections could pose lasting dangers to public lands and wildlife.
A new project in South Texas spans approximately five miles of wall, contributing to the broader effort of constructing around 100 miles of barriers along the extensive 1,950-mile U.S.-Mexico border.
