When you become a member of the Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition, you directly contribute to strengthening activities and projects in the Chihuahuan Desert. Membership is only $1 and supports conservation and awareness initiatives that highlight the importance of the desert ecosystem, its unique biodiversity, and the communities that rely on it for their livelihoods and well-being.
by Rick LoBello
When I first started traveling to El Paso, and later when I moved here permanently, I immediately saw problems with our immigration system.
What struck me most was not simply the issue of border security itself, but how ineffective our federal government often seems at solving long-term problems in a thoughtful and united way. Too often, our country reacts to crises politically instead of strategically. Politicians fight for points with voters while the actual problems remain unresolved year after year.
That frustration is one of the reasons President Donald Trump was elected. Many Americans were simply fed up with a system they believed was not working. They wanted disruption. And that is exactly what they got.
But what concerns me most is that we still are not truly solving the deeper problem.
Living on the border gives people a different perspective. Those of us who live here see both the benefits and the consequences of border security policies in ways that people far away often do not. The border wall itself has created mixed emotions for many border residents because we can see both the need for security and the environmental, cultural, and human impacts that come with it.
Now, as additional wall construction expands around Mount Cristo Rey, controversy continues to grow.
We should remember that both Republican and Democratic administrations have supported border wall construction in different ways over the years. This is not simply a partisan issue. It is a national issue.
But we also must ask difficult questions. What about the cultural and spiritual significance of places like Mount Cristo Rey, viewed by many in the Catholic community as sacred ground?
What about the environmental damage caused by large-scale construction projects along fragile desert ecosystems and wildlife corridors?
What about the long-term impact on public trust in government when communities feel their concerns are not fully heard?
I believe we need border security. Every nation has a responsibility to secure its borders.
But I also believe we are not thinking creatively enough about how to accomplish that goal.
We live in a time of extraordinary technology. If our nation has the ability to send astronauts to the moon, develop advanced surveillance systems, and create sophisticated communications technology, surely we can develop smarter and less environmentally destructive approaches to border security.
Why can’t more emphasis be placed on advanced technology, sensors, drones, monitoring systems, and targeted enforcement in environmentally sensitive areas instead of relying primarily on massive physical barriers and new infrastructure?
Places like Big Bend National Park are especially concerning to me. Homeland Security officials have already indicated that in some portions of Big Bend, including remote canyon areas, traditional border walls may not even be practical or necessary. Yet discussions continue about building new paved roads through wilderness landscapes that have been protected since the park was established in 1944.
To me, that raises another important question: Why do we need new paved roads through wilderness areas when roads already exist? Why not use the existing paved roads and infrastructure already available in and around the park? Once wilderness is fragmented by permanent development, it is extremely difficult—if not impossible—to restore what was lost. Wildlife habitats, dark skies, natural soundscapes, and the sense of remoteness that makes places like Big Bend special all begin to disappear.
And this larger issue goes far beyond immigration policy. The deeper problem is that America has become increasingly divided in how we solve problems. We spend enormous amounts of time fighting each other politically instead of bringing together scientists, conservationists, local communities, law enforcement, faith leaders, business leaders, and citizens to develop balanced solutions.
Everything becomes partisan. Everything becomes a battle. And because of that, long-term planning suffers.
I believe our country desperately needs a more united and collaborative approach to government—one where public input and thoughtful planning matter more than political point-scoring.
These border issues may seem small compared to all the enormous challenges facing our nation, but they reflect a larger pattern that affects nearly everything in America today.
Disunity.
As long as we continue down that path, the future of our country—and many of the landscapes, freedoms, and ways of life we cherish—will remain at risk. We can do better.
But first, we have to start listening to one another and planning better as a nation.