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Republican Sen. John Cornyn is raising concerns about the Trump administration’s construction of a border wall through national and state parks in his state.
In a letter released on Tuesday, Cornyn warned that the border barrier’s construction could disrupt natural beauty, indigenous sites, wildlife and tourism at Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park, both of which are located in Texas.
“Many residents that live and work around the parks are also concerned that a physical wall, which would be accompanied by lighting systems, access roads, and maintenance corridors, would (1) ruin the beauty, landscape, and wildlife of the park, (2) threaten culturally significant Native American sites, (3) disrupt wildlife migration, (4) limit access to the Rio Grande River, and (5) significantly harm the local economy as tourism is a major economic driver for the region,” he wrote.
He added that residents believe that the terrain itself could act as a natural barrier to illegal immigration.
The letter comes after Cornyn lost a GOP primary to Texas state Attorney General Ken Paxton, who Trump supported.
Cornyn over the last few weeks also has been a central figure in negotiations over confirming Todd Blanche as attoney general.
Cornyn’s letter about the parks arrives at the start of wall construction at the national park, which is located on the bend of the Rio Grande. It is known for its mountain range, river canyons and desert landscape.
Earlier this year, then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem waived several environmental laws as part of a bid to speed up border wall construction in the region.
The border wall has been a particular political priority of the president’s, particularly during his first term in office.
The Hill has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment.
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