For Immediate Release
Tucson, AZ

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced plans yesterday to replace 63 miles of pedestrian fencing and vehicle barrier with new bollard style wall in Pima and Cochise Counties.

This bollard wall will effectively cut off wildlife movement pathways in Arizona including the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge and Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge. Wildlife, including the endangered jaguar and Sonoran pronghorn, will be impacted by not only wall construction but road maintenance, lighting projects and other enforcement-related disturbances.

Defenders of Wildlife has produced an infographic detailing the wildlife and irreplaceable public lands that will be impacted by construction projects along the border, which can be viewed here.

CBP will be accepting public input on impacts of the proposed construction to the environment, culture and quality of life of residents in the region. Comments will be accepted until Friday, July 5, 2019 at commentsenv@cbp.dhs.gov.

Jamie Rappaport Clark, Former president and CEO of Defenders of Wildlife, issued this statement:

“This latest announcement by the Trump administration is another nail in the coffin for wildlife along the border. To fully wall off critical wildlife corridors and wildlife refuges in Arizona effectively ends the prospect of natural recovery of the jaguar in the United States. Defenders of Wildlife will continue to fight construction of any physical barriers that will destroy communities and wildlife along the border.”

For over 75 years, Defenders of Wildlife has remained dedicated to protecting all native animals and plants in their natural communities. With a nationwide network of nearly 2.1 million members and activists, Defenders of Wildlife is a leading advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard our wildlife for generations to come. To learn more, please visit https://defenders.org/newsroom or follow us on X @Defenders.

  

Media Contact

News

Image
Endangered Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus), Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, Florida
Washington, D.C.

Defenders Responds to Redefinition of Harm Under ESA

Andrew Bowman, Defenders of Wildlife President and CEO, today released the following statement in response to the Trump administration’s notice that it intends to rescind the regulatory definition of “Harm” under the Endangered Species Act:
Image
California Condor Take Off - Big Sur - California
Washington, D.C.

Defenders Intervenes to Protect Biden ESA Regulations

Defenders today filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit filed in federal court in the District of Columbia that challenges the Biden administration’s 2024 Endangered Species Act regulations.