Research shows border barriers cause environmental and cultural damage

Study conducted by Government Accountability Office shows damage to fragile ecosystems, public lands, and indigenous cultural sites by border barriers 

WASHINGTON – A nonpartisan government research organization in the U.S. has pointed to the environmental and cultural damage caused by the construction of border fences on the nation’s southern border.

The 72-page study, conducted by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), shows damage to fragile ecosystems, public lands, and indigenous cultural sites between 2017 and January 2021.

The GAO found that federal agencies constructed about 450 miles (724 kilometers) of barriers during that period.

They circumvented several environmental and other federal regulations to expedite the process, relying primarily on national security regulations.

Laiken Jordahl, a conservation advocate, said the report confirmed long-standing concerns about the wall’s impact on wildlife and indigenous sites.

The border wall was a key promise of Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign, emphasizing its role in national security.

Recently, border fences have become more common around the world. In 2022, 74 such structures will be erected, a significant increase since the end of the Cold War.

The GAO stressed the need for a thorough assessment prior to construction, citing insufficient feedback from the Department of Homeland Security to stakeholders.

The Trump administration allowed the circumvention of many laws and regulations in the construction of the southern border.

The report is the most comprehensive study to date on the negative impacts of the border wall. Immigration remains a flashpoint in U.S. politics, especially as the 2024 presidential election approaches.