No wall. No wire. No lights. NO INTERFERENCE.
information and how to stop the border wall.
WHAT’S HAPPENING
-Customs and Border Protection and the federal government have released plans for billions of dollars of border wall covering the entire Texas border, as well as New Mexico, Arizona, and California. (source)
-In addition to severely disrupting people, communities, and private land, these plans will destroy wildlife and thousands of acres of parkland and nature.
-Plans include 30-foot-tall barriers, water barriers, wire barriers, roads, digital surveillance construction, and more. (source)
-CBP has provided unclear and inconsistent information about the specific plans, and border communities remain unsure of CBP’s exact plans. (source) (source) (source)
AFFECTED PARKS
Amistad National Recreation Center
Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park
Big Bend National Park
Big Bend Ranch State Park
National Butterfly Center
Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge
Seminole Canyon State Park
and sooooo many more (source)
This list does not include the hundreds of thousands of people that have already had their communities destroyed, or will soon. (source) (source) (source) (source) (source)
THE MAP
View the map here.
The map is constantly updating.
CBP may not adhere to the map. (source) (source) (source)
AMISTAD NATIONAL
Amistad ironically means “friendship” in Spanish. (“Texas” means “friends” too…) This border lake is popular for hunting, camping, and fishing. Wildlife thrives here, and border plans would significantly limit access to the park and disrupt natural beauty. (source) (source)
BENTSEN-RIO GRANDE VALLEY
Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park is an international birdwatching destination. When birds fly south for the winter, they stop here. The park even includes wheelchair accessible trails. Barriers would significantly reduce access to the park and disrupt a crucial nature preserve. (source)
BIG BEND NATIONAL
One of only two national parks in Texas, Big Bend is our pride and joy. The park is larger than the entire state of Rhode Island and known for dramatic desert mountain landscapes, wildlife, and stargazing. While Border Patrol is not giving any definitive plans on what will run through the park, any interference such as lights, roads, surveillance, etc. would be a detrimental loss to the state and country. (source)
BIG BEND RANCH
The wall would limit access and decimate the views this park is known for.
Big Bend Ranch is the largest state park in Texas and is already under the jurisdiction of Border Control; you can’t camp there without agents shining lights into your camp. Border Patrol has identified 14 parcels within the park for barriers. (source) (source)
NATIONAL BUTTERFLY CENTER
I mean, really. What did the butterflies do to you? The National Butterfly Center in Mission. Texas is at risk of losing access to most of it’s wildlife nature preserve. The center is home to numerous endangered plants and threatened animals. The center faces eminent domain. (source) (source)
SANTA ANA WILDLIFE REFUGE
Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge is a bird and wildlife haven. Visitors can see species here and in South Texas that cannot be found anywhere else in the United States. Border barriers severely threaten the safety of wildlife and will ensure this is no longer a refuge. (source) (source) (source)
SEMINOLE CANYON
The barrier will separate park headquarters from Panther Cave rock art.
These paintings were made over a 4,000 year period. Seminole Canyon is famous for it’s elaborate prehistoric pictographs, caves, canyons, and miles of hiking trails. (source) (source)
WHAT YOU CAN DO
- CALL/EMAIL – The following slides will include contact information for Texas Parks and Wildlife and national representatives, as well as a prewritten email for you to send and a script to call. BE LOUD – IT’S WORKING. Tell everyone you know to take five minutes out of their day to speak up against any interference of our parks. Flood all inboxes, any reps or offices who haven’t issued statements need to do so NOW.
- GO TO A PROTEST – Follow @nobigbedwall and other advocacy groups to stay up to date about ongoing changes to the wall in Big Bend and learn about upcoming events.
- SIGN A PETITION – (petition 1) (petition 2) (petition 3) (petition 4)
- SUPPORT ORGANIZERS – No Big Bend Wall Coalition, Southern Borders Community Coalition, Rio Grande International Study Center, Center for Biological Diversity, Friends of the Ruidosa Church, etc. Comment more orgs below.
CONTACT INFO
Texas Parks and Wildlife Executive Office and Commission:
800-792-1112 customer.service@tpwd.texas.gov
*check back for updated information*
“Howdy, My name is ____ and I’m reaching out with grave concern regarding the CBP’s border wall plans that will significantly impact Bentson-Rio Grande Valley, Falcon, Seminole, and Big Bend Ranch State Parks.
I’m asking TPW to protect Texas wildlife, maintain complete control of all of Texas State Parks, refuse cooperation with CBP.
I’m asking TPW to end the silence and immediately make a public statement sharing the office’s stance on this issue.
Thank you for your time.”
*add to and edit the script! this is a basic outline.*
AUTO EMAIL: tinyurl.com/TPWborder
CUSTOMS AND BORDER PATROL
GENERAL: 877-227-5511 BIG BEND: 833-412-2056
“Howdy, I’m reaching out in regard to CBP’s border wall plans in Amistad National Recreation Center, Bentson-Rio Grande Valley State Park, Big Bend National Park, Big Bend Ranch State Park, Falcon State Park, National Butterfly Center, Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, Seminole Canyon State Park.
These are vital natural resources and CBP should immediately halt and adjust all plans that will add any construction, barriers, or light to these areas.
The destruction to wildlife would cause immeasurable harm to our communities. Thank you.”
*add to and edit the script! this is a basic outline.*
FEDERAL REPS:
John Cornyn: (202) 224-2934 tinyurl.com/contactjcornyn
Ted Cruz: (202) 224-5922 tinyurl.com/contacttedcruz
Henry Cuellar (28): (202) 225-1640 tinyurl.com/contacthenrycuellar
Vicente Gonzalez (34): (202) 225-2531 vicente.gonzalez@mail.house.gov
STATE REPS:
Greg Abbott: (512) 463-2000 tinyurl.com/contactgregabbott
Eddie Morales Jr. (74): (512) 463-0566 district74.morales@house.texas.gov
Wes Virdell (53): (512) 463-0536 wes.virdell@house.texas.gov
Roland Gutierrez (19): (512) 463-0119 roland.gutierrez@senate.texas.gov
Bobby Guerra (41): (956) 682-8812 bobby.guerra@house.texas.gov
Ryan Guillen (31): (512) 463-0416 ryan.guillen@house.texas.gov
Judith Zaffirini (21): (512) 463-0121 judith.zaffirini@senate.texas.gov
“Howdy, I’m reaching out in regard to CBP’s border wall plans in Amistad National Recreation Center, Bentson-Rio Grande Valley State Park, Big Bend National Park, Big Bend Ranch State Park, Falcon State Park, National Butterfly Center, Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, Seminole Canyon State Park. These are vital natural resources and CBP should immediately halt and adjust all plans that will add any construction, barriers, or light to these areas. The destruction to wildlife would cause immeasurable harm to our communities. Please let me know what you are doing to halt these heinous crimes. Thank you.”
AUTO EMAIL: tinyurl.com/noborderwallemail
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