Conservation group warns that newly constructed border wall section poses additional threat to endangered desert fish species.

A conservation organization claims that a new section of border wall in southern Arizona will not only prevent illegal immigrants but also have a negative impact on wildlife.

The press release from the Center for Biological Diversity states that a border wall segment and a paved road across Arizona's California Gulch are obstructing the flow of a critical stream for the survival of one of only two U.S. populations of Sonora chub.

The "rare desert fish" is a "small, moderately chubby fish that feeds on a variety of native food sources and has a unique and distinctly red coloration on the underside when in breeding condition," the organization states.

According to Krista Kemppinen, Ph.D., a senior scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity, the construction of a new wall and road will drive these endangered fish to the brink of extinction.

The construction of the dam makes it impossible for the Sonora chub to access scarce desert water on both sides of the border, exchange genetic material with nearby populations in Mexico, and bolster its populations with upstream migrations of fish from Sonora after droughts.

The organization highlighted the issue before President-elect Trump's inauguration and his planned intensification of border security measures.

"The urgency to designate California Gulch as critical habitat has increased, as it is crucial to minimize other threats, such as keeping cows out of the Sonora chub’s pools. Additionally, carefully designed culverts must be added to the new border infrastructure to allow at least some semblance of a natural streamflow and migration. Federal officials must act now if they are serious about saving this fish."

This month, Trump sparked a heated discussion about the responsibility of Democrats for California's wildfires, claiming that Gov. Gavin Newsom prioritized the protection of endangered smelt fish over the safety of the state's residents.

On Wednesday, Trump sparked controversy on his Truth Social platform by criticizing Newsom for prioritizing the protection of an unimportant fish species over the water needs of Californians. This criticism is not new, as Trump made a similar claim during an October interview with Joe Rogan prior to the November election.

Neither the Center for Biological Diversity nor the Trump transition team responded to a request for comment regarding this story.

Planet Chronicle' Alec Schemmel contributed to this report.