Trump Administration Announces Plan for Destructive Border Wall Through National Parks

Tucson, Arizona – U.S. Customs and Border Protection today announced plans to construct an 18-to-30-foot border wall along the entire southern border of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and a portion of Coronado National Memorial, as well as through other wildlife refuges and sensitive ecosystems on the U.S.-Mexico border – 63 miles total. The construction of a border wall in biodiverse areas like the Sonoran Desert would damage delicate park landscapes, block wildlife migration, and disrupt the flow of water. Public comments and information will be accepted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection until Friday, July 5, 2019.

Statement by Kevin Dahl, Arizona Senior Program Manager for the National Parks Conservation Association:

“Border walls divide our parks and communities. Construction of a new steel wall across this landscape will not only cut off animal migration routes, but also exacerbate flooding threats and cause irreparable damage to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, one of our country’s most unique national parks. And with Department of Homeland Security’s power to waive any and all laws to expedite border construction, the project could move forward without meaningful environmental reviews and regardless of public input.

“There is no question that border security is vital to our country, which is why it’s so important we get it right. We need to look for solutions that keep our landscapes and communities intact – a wall is not the answer for our security or our national parks.”

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About National Parks Conservation Association: For 100 years, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its more than 1.3 million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s most iconic and inspirational places for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org/100.