The Trump administration spent about $15 billion on constructing over 400 miles of the border wall, often bypassing environmental laws. Contrary to Trump’s promises, Mexico did not contribute to the funding. Environmental advocates, like Laiken Jordahl from the Center for Biological Diversity, have long warned about the harmful impacts of wall construction on wildlife, public lands, and cultural resources. The GAO report confirms these concerns, documenting fragmented wildlife habitats, disrupted migration routes, and the destruction of native vegetation, including ancient cacti.
The report also highlights the damage to Indigenous cultural and burial sites. In Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, contractors bulldozed land and damaged Monument Hill, which holds cultural and burial sites sacred to the Tohono O’odham and other Native American tribes. The destruction of these sites, according to tribal officials, is irreparable and disrupts important cultural practices.
Water resources have also been severely affected. The report mentions that an artesian well in San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge no longer flows naturally and requires mechanical pumps. Ponds in the refuge have gone dry, endangering fish species. Additionally, newly constructed roads have disrupted natural water flow, increasing the risk of flooding in certain areas.
Animals and plants along the border have suffered as well. The wall has limited the movement of endangered species like the Sonoran pronghorn and Mexican gray wolf. In Texas’s Rio Grande Valley, the ocelot’s habitat has been fragmented and travel corridors severed, significantly increasing the risk of extinction in the US.
One of the most visually striking impacts of wall construction was the destruction of protected saguaro cacti. These ancient cacti were cut down, allowing invasive species to take hold. The Tohono O’odham Nation considered this destruction as both an environmental and cultural assault, as saguaro cacti play a significant role in their culture and livelihood.
Moreover, the report reveals significant erosion resulting from mountain cutting, road construction, and staging areas. Incomplete erosion control measures and unstable mountain slopes put the barrier system at risk. A Forest Service official noted that the Pajarito Mountains in the Coronado National Forest are now at risk of collapse due to soil erosion caused by vegetation clearing.
The GAO’s findings illustrate the urgent need for mitigation, restoration, and removal of border wall segments that obstruct critical migration routes for endangered species.
In response to the report, officials at CBP and other agencies blamed some negative impacts on President Joe Biden’s halt of border wall construction. CBP and the Interior Department have agreed to work together on a strategy to mitigate the adverse effects of the border wall.
This report serves as a stark reminder of the immense environmental and cultural harm caused by the border wall and emphasizes the urgent need for action to address these damages.
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