Why a border wall divides even Trump voters in Texas

In this episode of USA Today's The Excerpt, reporter Lauren Villagran explores the growing bipartisan opposition to President Donald Trump's plan to build a border wall through the Big Bend region of Texas—a remote, ecologically rich, and tourism-dependent area along the U.S.-Mexico border. Despite Trump’s long-standing promise to construct a border wall and his 2025 administration’s renewed push with over $45 billion in funding, locals—including three-time Trump voters—express outrage at the prospect of a 30-foot steel barrier cutting through pristine desert landscapes and national parks. Residents, from restaurant owners to astrophotographers and river outfitters, argue that the region’s natural geography already serves as a formidable barrier, and that the wall would destroy fragile ecosystems, disrupt wildlife migration, and ruin the area’s world-class night skies and river access. The episode reveals a deep irony: even among Trump supporters, NIMBYism has taken hold, with many advocating for less invasive border security measures like drones, infrared lighting, and increased manpower instead of massive physical barriers. The emotional core of the story centers on Denise Carrera, a native of Presidio who returned to the area to reconnect with the dark night skies of her youth—now threatened by construction lights and infrastructure. The episode underscores a broader tension between national border policy and local environmental and cultural preservation.