In an interview Thursday, Scott described border security as a firm priority and warned that leaving Big Bend without new infrastructure could make it vulnerable to smuggling and unauthorized crossings. He said the region’s rugged terrain does not eliminate the risk, arguing that smugglers could use more accessible routes.

The administration’s project, funded by Republicans in Congress last summer, is intended to cover roughly 2,000 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border. Plans include steel barriers as tall as 30 feet, vehicle barriers, roads and surveillance equipment. The administration says crews are building about 12 miles per week. Scott said the primary wall is scheduled for completion by the end of December 2027, with the broader project expected to finish before President Donald Trump’s second term ends.

The Big Bend plans have drawn opposition from landowners, businesses and environmental advocates, including some Republicans. Critics question spending billions in an area that has historically recorded few migrant crossings and warn that construction could damage sensitive landscapes.

Earlier this month, a judge ordered work in the region to stop, finding that plaintiffs could face serious, irreversible harm without an injunction. The order covers construction in Big Bend National Park. The administration has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to lift the pause.

Scott said he halted construction-related activity in the park after bulldozers were seen disturbing ground there in August. He said CBP is speaking with local residents about how to proceed, but declined to describe specific plans while lawsuits continue. He said the park would not receive tall steel walls.

The dispute has become a test of how the administration will pursue its border agenda where construction faces legal challenges and local resistance. CBP is responsible for carrying out the project; Scott, a former Border Patrol agent, was appointed to lead the agency by Trump.