National Parks

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott said Monday he was "pausing all construction activity" in the West Texas park ahead of a visit to the region this week. Scott's visit comes after two weeks of public outcry over images of bulldozers and other heavy machinery clearing land in the park.

At the base of Santa Elena Canyon in Big Bend National Park, protestors gathered Wednesday to rally against what they have called an attack on the sprawling West Texas park.

Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas says local leaders, landowners and park advocates should have a chance to weigh in before additional construction moves forward.

Texas Democrats are urging the Trump administration to delay its plans for building border barriers and roads across the West Texas park. Bulldozers and trucks bearing the logo of the contractor awarded $1.7 billion for the project were seen in the national park on Tuesday as local activists warn construction could start at any moment.

Repairs to vital infrastructure were abruptly put on hold with little explanation, impacting the park's most popular area.

Since news first surfaced late last year that border walls could be built for the first time in the Big Bend region of West Texas, the story has been marked by shifting, unannounced changes and few clearly communicated details from the Trump administration.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection updated its map of planned border wall projects to add vehicle barriers and patrol roads to portions of Big Bend National Park on Tuesday. It's not clear if the barriers would be temporary or permanent.

Jeff Davis County Judge Curtis Evans says he "shut down" a construction crew that was working as a subcontractor for Barnard Construction on improving a rugged dirt road that leads to the Rio Grande. Barnard is the Montana firm that was recently awarded nearly $2 billion to build border walls in the Big Bend region.

A multi-million dollar project to tear down and rebuild the national park's lodge and restaurant was abruptly canceled Wednesday just a month before it was set to begin.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection this week quietly updated its "Smart Wall" map to remove two "primary border barrier system" projects in the Big Bend area, including one recently slated for Big Bend National Park. Other projects are still listed for parts of Presidio, Jeff Davis and Hudspeth counties.