U.S. pauses border construction project in Big Bend National Park

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott has paused construction work inside Big Bend National Park. He said he wants to personally review the project before it continues.

Workers had been using bulldozers and excavators to build a patrol road and vehicle barriers along the border with Mexico. The work went through popular areas of the park and drew criticism from local officials, environmental groups, and some Republican politicians.

Local law enforcement said the construction was expensive and unnecessary because very few migrants cross in that area. CBP had planned to add roads, cameras, and vehicle barriers, but not a tall wall.