A 55-mile section of land along the U.S.-Mexico border has been closed to the public during border wall construction.

The Coronado National Forest issued a public health and safety closure order Monday, signed by Forest Supervisor Kerwin Dewberry, stating that individuals who violate the order could face a fine of up to $5,000 and up to six months in prison.

Under the order, access will be restricted in areas where contractors are building single- and double-wall projects for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Arizona’s border with Mexico.

Myles Traphagen, biologist with the conservation organization Cuenca los Ojos, says if the federal government was concerned about public safety, a closure notice would’ve been issued at the start of border construction last year.

“But now all of a sudden, we’re a year into this and they’re starting to get some bad press with images of mountains blown up and trees being cut down,” Traphagen said.

Sections near the Coronado National Memorial are closed but the nearby Arizona Trail will not be affected by the closure, Forest Service officials told AZPM.

Areas exempt from closure include the forest boundaries of the San Rafael State Natural Area and Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge.

The closure will remain in effect through Jan. 20, 2029, and will be enforced by the Forest Service and other authorized federal agencies, unless rescinded.

Traphagen believes the closure is politically motivated.

“Especially because the order extends up to 1,500 feet north of the border and this extends well beyond the 60-foot easement, the Roosevelt Reservation that the federal government holds,” Traphagen said. “I’m curious if this will hold up to any legal challenge because Congress needs to approve this much removal of public lands.”

The Roosevelt Reservation is a 60-foot-wide strip of land along the border that’s owned by the federal government.

On Tuesday, the Sierra Club Borderlands program also condemned the closure.

“The public has a right to witness what is happening to their public lands and seek accountability for actions that destroy natural and cultural areas,” Erik Meza, borderlands coordinator for the Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter, said in a press release.

Representatives from the Forest Service did not immediately respond to a request for comment.