Trump Administration Arizona Border Proposal Would Wall Off National Wildlife Refuges

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.”