The Trump administration said Monday it is temporarily pausing construction of a contentious border construction project in Texas' Big Bend National Park while the head of the agency tasked with building the wall visits to do an "on-the-ground evaluation." The project through the national park in southern Texas has faced fierce bipartisan opposition by critics who say it is marring the area's pristine environment.

They argue the region's rugged and remote terrain already serves as a deterrent to migrants and smugglers.

Border crossings in the area have historically been lower than other regions and have dropped even further over the past two years.