Texas Groups Warn Border Barriers Could Cripple Big Bend Tourism

In a letter sent Tuesday to Republican Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz and Governor Greg Abbott, the groups urged Texas leaders to stop the "needless construction" of border barriers along the Rio Grande, arguing the plans would permanently damage one of the state's most important recreation destinations while providing little additional security benefit. "To Washington D.C., this is just another construction project. But to all of us in West Texas, it's a matter of our survival, Billy Bartko, owner of Far Flung Outdoor Center, said in a statement.

"Our economy depends on access to the Rio Grande. The appeal comes as Customs and Border Protection advances plans to install vehicle barriers at river access points throughout the Big Bend region following a Department of Homeland Security decision in June to waive numerous environmental, cultural and other protections to speed construction.