Public Input Opportunity: Border Wall Construction Plans in Starr County Refuge Tracts

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has released a request for public input regarding proposed border wall construction in Hidalgo and Starr Counties, Texas. The project includes approximately 4.7 miles of new wall segments within the Rio Grande Valley Sector, some of which intersect with federally protected refuge lands managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).

Community members, conservationists, and stakeholders are encouraged to review the official CBP environmental assessment and comment form, which includes an interactive ArcGIS map detailing proposed wall locations. Comments are being accepted through September 26, 2025, and may be submitted via email, phone, or mail.

Key Areas of Concern for Habitat Conservation

Several refuge tracts appear to be directly impacted by the proposed construction:

• Las Ruinas and Arroyo Ramirez Tracts: These areas were previously walled in 2019. The current map shows small wall segments likely intended to connect earlier construction with newer adjacent sections. At Arroyo Ramirez, a recently built wall on neighboring property suggests a continuation that would complete the barrier across this corridor.

• Arroyo Morteros Tract: Located upriver from Salineño, this unwalled refuge is marked for a new wall segment that cuts directly across the arroyo. The terrain here includes high, erosion-prone banks that would require significant excavation and grading. Past discussions reportedly considered routing the wall along the northern boundary of the refuge to avoid these sensitive features, but the current map does not reflect that alternative.

• Floodplain Near Rio Grande City: Additional wall segments are planned in low-lying areas adjacent to neighborhoods and an elementary school. These sections were originally designed in 2012 to redirect floodwaters into the U.S. rather than deflecting them into Mexico. However, the new extensions were not part of the original flood modeling, raising questions about how water will flow through or around these barriers. In one instance, a refuge tract next to a residential area may prevent drainage to the Rio Grande, potentially increasing flood risk for nearby homes.

  
  

Why This Matters

The Lower Rio Grande Valley is home to some of the most biologically diverse habitat in North America. Refuge tracts like Arroyo Morteros and Las Ruinas serve as critical corridors for wildlife movement, native plant restoration, and community-based conservation efforts. Construction in these areas may fragment habitat, alter hydrology, and impact long-term ecological resilience.

Friends of the Wildlife Corridor encourages all interested parties to engage with the public input process. Thoughtful, fact-based comments can help inform planning decisions and ensure that conservation values are considered alongside infrastructure goals.

How to Submit a Comment

Comments can be submitted by:

• Email: RGVComments@cbp.dhs.gov (Subject: “Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Wall Construction”)

• Phone: (833) 412-2056

• Mail:

  
  

  U.S. Customs and Border Protection

  U.S. Border Patrol Headquarters

  Program Management Office Directorate

  1300 Pennsylvania Ave. 6.5E Mail Stop 1039

  Washington, DC 20229-1100

  ATTN: Miche

  lle Barnes

For more details and to view the interactive map, visit the CBP project page.