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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Rebecca Santana

AP Exclusive: Trump’s border chief defends wall plans in Texas’ Big Bend despite a court setback

Border Wall Land Owners Photo Essay - (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

The Trump administration’s top border official defended plans to build a wall and other infrastructure in Texas' Big Bend region despite mounting opposition against the project and a court-ordered pause on construction, saying his goal of fortifying the country's borders was “non-negotiable.”

In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press, Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott argued that the $46 billion wall project was justified despite a bipartisan coalition of landowners, local businesses and environmentalists who view it as a waste of taxpayer money that could be destructive to a region with historically low migrant crossings.

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