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“I assume those areas of the NWR (South of the new wall) just go back to being unmanaged territory?”

This occurred a bit East of there during the Bush Administration as well. They continue to manage the land as a wildlife reserve (there are gates for access). It becomes a more pristine and less disturbed reserve.

The public gets less access, but the actual wildlife reserve is likely to grow, both in fact, and in practice. Some landowners South of the wall will sell their property to Government, and it could be added to the reserve. Others, just fall into disuse, and revert to wild land.

Some residents continued to live in houses South of the wall (still do). They typically have to drive a bit out of their way for an opening in the barrier (33 openings were left back then, where roads crossed), or for a gate they had the access code for. A contract is currently being executed to install motorized gates with keypad access in those old openings in the barrier around Brownsville/Cameron County, so all residents will need keypad code access.

A good bit if the land that will be South of the wall, is rich alluvial soil, in the flat floodplain of the river, that makes excellent farmland. Farmers have continued to work land South of the Wall from the Bush-era Secure Fence Act construction, and other farmers will mostly continue to work their existing fields when the new segments go up.

That is a big reason for the public comment period - to make sure that everyone who is going to need gate access for their property has been identified, and accommodation planned. My understanding is that the Government is willing (and funded) to buy everyone’s land South of the Wall if they want to sell, or accommodate them for access if they don’t. Owners don’t get a choice on the strip of land needed for the Barrier itself though, as well as a patrol road and 150 feet to the South for a cleared observation area.