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Author and Big Bend Activist Ben English speaks during a book signing at the Medina Community Library.
Lee Haile performs a song he wrote in protest of a border wall inside Big Bend National Park.
Photos by Jessica Nohealapa’ahi
June 19, 2026
Author speaks out against proposed border wall in national park
By Jessica Nohealapa’ahi
The Bandera Prophet
Reading aloud from his cell phone newly breaking news, Ben English announced a proposed ban on a border wall in Big Bend National Park had failed, and the federal administration would proceed with construction after waiving dozens of regulations. English was in the middle of a Faith and Freedom book signing at the Medina Community Library last week when he received the text.
The failed amendment, introduced by U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar, D-TX, 28th Congressional District, would have blocked the Department of Homeland Security from funding border wall construction in environmentally sensitive and historic areas, specifically Laredo, Falcon Lake, San Ignacio and Big Bend. Undeterred by current plans that would reportedly disturb or destroy 227 archaeological sites, including sacred graves, the GOP-controlled U.S. House Appropriations Committee killed the measure, with voting along party lines.
Numerous federal and environmental laws are being disregarded to begin work on 175 miles of combined 30-foot-high steel wall and six-foot-tall post-and-rail vehicle barriers, which will reportedly extend from the Big Bend Ranch State Park, through the Big Bend National Park and beyond into neighboring Brewster County.
“The Secretary of Homeland Security has determined, pursuant to law, that it is necessary to waive certain laws, regulations, and other legal requirements in order to ensure the expeditious construction of barriers and roads in the vicinity of the international land border in the state of Texas,” the Notice of Determination, published in the Federal Register on May 15 and reissued June 9, states.
A stark contradiction to some area headlines published in May that the Big Bend border wall was canceled, English condemned the reporting.
“This is deliberate. It’s like a carnival shell game. They’re being sneaky,” English, an eighth-generation Texan, former Marine and retired State Trooper whose roots stem from the natural area, said.
In addition to the steel barriers, authorities reportedly plan to utilize cameras and infrared illumination along the U.S./Mexico border, though “no fresh footprints” have been detected in that area in more than a year, English said.
“One of these days, somebody’s going to wake up and realize what a terrible mistake it was,” English said. “There is no justification for a wall. What are we doing?”
Equipment and heavy machinery have been seen moving into Presidio County, the western gateway to the Big Bend Ranch State Park, despite a resolution passed by Presidio County commissioners urging federal and state officials to reconsider. The court’s resolution was supported by the Marfa City Council, Alpine, Brewster County, and Jeff Davis County. The Presidio Municipal Development District this month filed a federal lawsuit to block construction, according to the Texas Tribune.
“Do not be distracted by petty politics. I don’t care if you’re a Democrat, a Republican, an Independent, or none of the above. If we stand together and say this is wrong, I still believe we can beat this.”
To learn more about English, his books and position on Big Bend, go to https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100015377857930.
The failed amendment, introduced by U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar, D-TX, 28th Congressional District, would have blocked the Department of Homeland Security from funding border wall construction in environmentally sensitive and historic areas, specifically Laredo, Falcon Lake, San Ignacio and Big Bend. Undeterred by current plans that would reportedly disturb or destroy 227 archaeological sites, including sacred graves, the GOP-controlled U.S. House Appropriations Committee killed the measure, with voting along party lines.
Numerous federal and environmental laws are being disregarded to begin work on 175 miles of combined 30-foot-high steel wall and six-foot-tall post-and-rail vehicle barriers, which will reportedly extend from the Big Bend Ranch State Park, through the Big Bend National Park and beyond into neighboring Brewster County.
“The Secretary of Homeland Security has determined, pursuant to law, that it is necessary to waive certain laws, regulations, and other legal requirements in order to ensure the expeditious construction of barriers and roads in the vicinity of the international land border in the state of Texas,” the Notice of Determination, published in the Federal Register on May 15 and reissued June 9, states.
A stark contradiction to some area headlines published in May that the Big Bend border wall was canceled, English condemned the reporting.
“This is deliberate. It’s like a carnival shell game. They’re being sneaky,” English, an eighth-generation Texan, former Marine and retired State Trooper whose roots stem from the natural area, said.
In addition to the steel barriers, authorities reportedly plan to utilize cameras and infrared illumination along the U.S./Mexico border, though “no fresh footprints” have been detected in that area in more than a year, English said.
“One of these days, somebody’s going to wake up and realize what a terrible mistake it was,” English said. “There is no justification for a wall. What are we doing?”
Equipment and heavy machinery have been seen moving into Presidio County, the western gateway to the Big Bend Ranch State Park, despite a resolution passed by Presidio County commissioners urging federal and state officials to reconsider. The court’s resolution was supported by the Marfa City Council, Alpine, Brewster County, and Jeff Davis County. The Presidio Municipal Development District this month filed a federal lawsuit to block construction, according to the Texas Tribune.
“Do not be distracted by petty politics. I don’t care if you’re a Democrat, a Republican, an Independent, or none of the above. If we stand together and say this is wrong, I still believe we can beat this.”
To learn more about English, his books and position on Big Bend, go to https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100015377857930.