Elected county judges from every county along the Texas-Mexico border are calling on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to coordinate more closely with local officials as confusion continues to surround federal plans for border wall construction in the Big Bend region due to a lack of transparency.
The 14 judges, who serve as the chief elected officials and emergency management leads for their counties, sent a letter April 21 to DHS Sec. Markwayne Mullin urging consistent communication and early coordination before major infrastructure decisions move forward.
Their message comes in response to changing federal plans for the Big Bend region in recent months, which have left landowners, residents, and local officials uncertain about what infrastructure is being built, where it will go, and how it will impact communities.
In February, a map published by U.S. Customs and Border Protection showed plans for a border wall through Big Bend National Park, but they then removed the wall from the map in March. In early April, a lawsuit was filed to block the Department of Homeland Security from building the wall through the region. On April 21, new mapping from CBP indicated the agency returned to planning for a physical border wall in Big Bend.
“As county judges, we sit at the intersection of federal policy and local impact. We know the terrain, the people and the realities of daily life along the border,” said Hudspeth County Judge Joanna E. MacKenzie in an op-ed published in the Austin American-Statesman. “That is why we are asking for a true partnership — one that reflects the differences across this region and includes local voices from the start. Strong border security and strong border communities are not competing priorities. They reinforce each other.”
In their letter, the judges emphasized that they support effective border security but warned that one-size-fits-all approaches risk harming communities if implemented without local input.
“[C]ollaborative efforts in the Big Bend region, including Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park, have demonstrated the effectiveness of adapting from a traditional physical barrier approach to a more strategic use of technology and smart infrastructure,” states the letter. “That approach reflects how thoughtful coordination can meet security objectives while preserving natural resources, and the unique character of the region.
The Texas-Mexico border spans nearly 1,300 miles and includes urban crossings, rural communities, working ranches, and vast remote terrain. The judges noted that past infrastructure decisions have led to unintended consequences, including restricted access to private land and water resources and disruptions to local activity.
Their call for coordination comes amid growing scrutiny of federal actions in the Big Bend region, where:
- Federal maps have changed multiple times since October, alternating between detection technology and physical wall construction
- Approximately 175 miles of physical wall remain planned through private land upstream of protected areas
- Construction contracts have already been awarded
- A waiver of 28 federal laws clearing the way for construction remains in place
Local officials say the lack of clarity is creating unnecessary uncertainty for the people who live and work along the border.
“Possibly for the first time in history, every one of those counties is speaking with one voice,” MacKenzie wrote. “Not in anger. Not in politics. But in partnership.”
The judges are requesting:
- Consistent communication with border county judges
- Early coordination with local officials and landowners
- Flexibility in how border security is implemented across regions
- Protections for private land access, water resources, and agricultural operations
“This is not a partisan issue. It is a practical one,” MacKenzie wrote.
As federal agencies continue to move forward with planning and construction, the judges say they are ready to work in partnership, but only if they are included in the process.
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