For Immediate Release: Monday, November 9, 2026
Contact: Doug Gordon | do**@***************es.com
Coalition To Protect America’s National Parks and Keep Big Bend Wild
Response To Supreme Court Allowing Border Wall Construction in Big Bend National Park
Today, the Supreme Court of the United States allowed the unnecessary destruction of Big Bend National Park to resume by overturning the District Court’s preliminary injunction imposed October 2 by the Federal District Court in El Paso. That injunction had lifted the arbitrary waivers imposed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) of all the laws that would normally require public input and protect the environment and cultural resources, and stopped all border construction work temporarily in the national park and the rest of the Big Bend Sector until a full trial is held on the merits of the case.
The Coalition to Protect America’s National Park and Keep Big Bend Wild are deeply concerned about the inevitable impacts of this decision.
Bob Krumenaker, Chair of Big Bend Wild and former superintendent of Big Bend National Park:
“While we respect the Court’s decision, it means that the unaccountable destruction of Big Bend National Park’sborderlands is likely to resume at any moment, with DHS unlikely to even tell us what their plan is before the bulldozers run amok. While this can still be stopped when it goes to full trial, it’s clear that the only path that will guarantee that thisdestruction stops and protects the national park and the surrounding area from any more gross government overreach is a PROTECT BIG BEND FOREVER Act in the next Congress. That law needs to rescind the waivers, cancel the contracts, and protect the national park from any future attempt by any agency of government to build unnecessary, unwanted, inappropriate developments in these wild lands treasured by the American people.”
Emily Thompson, Executive Director of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks:
“This is a sad day, but it is not the end. We will redouble our efforts, in court and in Congress. Border security and conservation do not have to be in conflict, and we’re confident lawmakers from both parties will come together to protect Big Bend permanently. Until then, we urge DHS to pause any further construction in Big Bend and recognize what the American people have made clear: they want these places protected.”