Thousands of Texans gathered at the state capitol on Saturday to protest plans for a border wall cutting through Big Bend National Park. The protest drew people from across political lines, highlighting strong local opposition to the White House’s construction plans. Reports say more than 2,000 people attended the rally, carrying signs that read “No Big Bend NP Wall,” “Big Love for Big Bend,” and “No al Muro,” Spanish for “No to the Wall.” Organizers collected postcards from attendees to deliver to Governor Greg Abbott, who has yet to publicly comment on the wall plans. Democratic State Senator César Blanco said his office had received countless messages from residents who treasure Big Bend and oppose damaging it with a border wall. “There’s nothing like that region anywhere in the world,” Blanco said. “It’s a place where families make memories together.” He added, “We all agree that border security matters, but we don’t have to harm our communities or ecosystems to achieve it. We can act thoughtfully with local input.” The protest united voices across political lines. Brandon Herrera, a Republican congressional candidate and YouTube personality, said opposition to the wall in Big Bend was widespread. “Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Sheriffs, tourists—nobody wants this wall in Big Bend,” he said. Former Texas land commissioner Jerry Patterson led chants of “no damn wall” and emphasized that he had not found anyone supporting the barrier. Many speakers highlighted the environmental impact of the wall. Concerns included threats to bighorn sheep, black bears, and local river access. Anthropologist Carolyn Boyd warned that current plans risk destroying sacred rock art murals. “These are libraries of human knowledge,” she said. “They represent 175 generations and remain sacred to Native American communities today.” Big Bend National Park is the largest single block of public land in Texas. The park is celebrated for its desert landscapes, river rafting, hiking trails, and dark skies. Several protesters shared personal stories of connection to the land. Brenner Burgess proposed to his wife at Terlingua, near the park, and they later married at Sotol Vista Overlook. “It was perfect,” said his wife, Sara Reid. The border wall expansion is part of the One Big Beautiful Bill pushed by Donald Trump, which allocates $46.5 billion for wall construction. By contrast, the National Park Service’s full budget is only $3.3 billion. In February, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) updated its online map to show new wall plans affecting parts of Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park. At that time, then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem waived environmental and historic protection laws to allow faster construction. Public opposition, including from law enforcement and political leaders, forced CBP to repeatedly revise its plans. The agency has suggested that “technology-only” solutions may replace physical barriers in the parks, though details remain unclear. Critics worry the agency could still proceed with construction. Some are urging Congress to pass legislation explicitly forbidding walls through the parks. Records show CBP began talks with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in February to obtain easement rights for three parks, including Big Bend Ranch. Plans were reportedly put on hold the following month. Lloyd Easterling, Big Bend sector chief, recently retired, raising concerns among conservationists who valued his assurances that steel bollard walls would not be built. The protest highlighted broad concern for preserving Big Bend’s natural beauty, cultural heritage, and local communities. As public pressure mounts, residents hope lawmakers and federal agencies will protect the park from irreversible damage.