Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump Border Wall Construction in Texas Big Bend

A federal court in Texas on Friday temporarily blocked the Trump administration from building a border wall and other infrastructure across the state’s Big Bend region.

U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone issued a preliminary injunction, stating that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed on the merits of at least one of the claims in suit, that there is a likelihood that they will suffer serious, irreparable harm without an injunction, and that the balance of the equities and the public interest weigh in their favor.

The ruling covers the entire 500-mile-long Big Bend sector, which accounts for about a quarter of the U.S.-Mexican border, including Big Bend National Park. The planned projects are part of a $46 billion effort by the Trump administration to line the southern border with 30-foot-tall steel walls, vehicle barriers, roads, and surveillance technology. Landowners, businesses, and environmentalists in the region united to oppose the projects, arguing the remote and rugged landscape serves as its own deterrent to illegal immigration.

They also claimed the administration violated the law by issuing waivers to bypass numerous regulations to speed up construction. The lawsuit, filed by an environmental organization, advocates for a historic church in Ruidosa, and a river guide, argued the Department of Homeland Security was wrong to circumvent regulations protecting the environment, culture, and archaeology. U.S. Customs and Border Protection defended the project, stating it stands by its assessment and remains confident in its legal authorities. The agency is working with the Department of Justice on next steps.