Key facts
- An organization representing Presidio and Presidio County sued the Trump administration over border wall plans.
- The lawsuit claims border barriers will cause flooding in the Big Bend area.
- The suit alleges construction could compromise existing flood control levees.
- The Trump administration is in the planning stages for border barriers in the region.
An economic development organization for Presidio and Presidio County has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging the planned construction of border barriers and technology along the Rio Grande in the Big Bend region. The Presidio Municipal Development District, represented by the nonprofit Democracy Forward, argues that the federal government's plans will lead to dangerous flooding.
According to the lawsuit, the construction of 30-foot steel bollards embedded in concrete on top of the existing earthen levee system could compromise its integrity. The levee has historically protected the region from floods, including in 1978 and 2008. Democracy Forward asserts that altering these flood control works could result in devastating floods, harming infrastructure, homes, farmland, and agriculture.
Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward, stated that the administration's plans are reckless and disregard the potential harm to the community. The lawsuit also claims the administration did not obtain necessary permission from the Secretary of the Army to build along the Presidio Flood Control Project, managed by the U.S. Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission.
A spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection indicated that the administration is still in the planning phases for the location of border barriers and technology in the Big Bend area. This region, the largest Border Patrol sector, is characterized by rugged terrain that has historically served as a natural deterrent to illegal crossings. Despite a significant drop in migrant encounters in recent fiscal years, the administration has described the area as a high-traffic zone for illegal entry and drug smuggling.
The Trump administration intends to close gaps along the entire U.S.-Mexico border. In Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park, the administration is reportedly installing sensors and vehicle barriers and has contacted private landowners to survey their property, with the possibility of eminent domain.