Building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border has been a signature issue for President Donald Trump since he first ran for office in 2016. Now, plans for a wall through the Big Bend region of West Texas are raising alarms with residents and officials alike.
Last week the Department of Homeland Security waived 28 laws that protect the environment and preserve local history in order to speed up construction. The consequences of such construction may be severe. If the wall is erected, says a noted archaeologist in the region, “One of our most beloved national parks and our state’s largest park will be scarred beyond repair.”
Martha, who reports on Texas for ICN and visited Big Bend for this reporting, describes the impact a wall would have on wildlife and habitats, what makes the wall “smart,” and if there’s anything that can save Big Bend from this plan.
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Thank you,
Reporter, El Paso, Texas
Martha Pskowski covers climate change and the environment in Texas from her base in El Paso. She was previously an environmental reporter at the El Paso Times. She began her career as a freelance journalist in Mexico, reporting for outlets including The Guardian and Yale E360. Martha has a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Hampshire College and a master’s degree in Journalism and Latin American Studies from New York University. She is a former Fulbright research fellow in Mexico. Martha can be reached on Signal at psskow.33.
