Bulldozers have commenced clearing land in Big Bend National Park for the controversial border wall project, sparking significant backlash from local residents, activists, and Texas officials. Protests have erupted as businesses band together to refuse service to contractors involved in the construction. Critics, including lawmakers and conservationists, have voiced concerns over the environmental impact and the historical significance of the area, including potential threats to the memory of the Porvenir massacre. Despite calls for a pause in construction and demands for consultation with local communities, federal contractors have advanced with the project, invoking reactions that range from condemnation to outright fury among Texans.