Emails shared with Marfa Public Radio by Presidio County Commissioner Deirdre Hisler show that U.S. Customs and Border Protection paused part of the Big Bend area border wall project on Sept. 24. The agency said the pause was voluntary and was prompted by delays in gaining access to private land and a demand from contractor Barnard Construction for more money. A federal judge issued an order halting construction across the Big Bend region about a week later.
According to the emails, CBP told Barnard to demobilize equipment and personnel on the paused portion of the "Big Bend 3" project, which covers 56 miles of the Rio Grande. The agency said it did not approve the lump sum or the monthly standby rate Barnard requested. Barnard has a $960.4 million contract for the project. The agency also paused logistics tied to access on Chispa Road, a county road leading to the border.
On Oct. 28, a CBP project manager, Marcus Miniear, told Hisler the suspension remained in place. The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to allow construction to resume. CBP did not immediately respond to a request for comment.