From Mother Jones · Martha Pskowski · · 1m 30s
Judge Halts Big Bend Border Wall Construction
Federal judge stops Texas border wall project in Big Bend National Park.
In brief
Federal judge stops Texas border wall project in Big Bend National Park. A federal judge halted border wall construction in Big Bend National Park after finding the area has minimal illegal crossings and the government violated environmental laws. Originally reported by Mother Jones.
Federal judge halts Big Bend wall construction
Federal Judge Kathleen Cardone granted a preliminary injunction to stop border wall construction in Texas’ Big Bend sector, including national and state parks.
Big Bend sector has minimal illegal crossings
An analyst testified the Big Bend sector is a 'distant last place' in unauthorized border crossings compared to other US-Mexico border areas.
“distant last place”
Plaintiffs sued over environmental laws
The Center for Biological Diversity, Friends of the Ruidosa Church, and Danny Miller Jr. sued the US Department of Homeland Security and Secretary Markwayne Mullin for waiving environmental laws to fast-track the wall.
Construction paused but resumed
Customs and Border Protection paused construction in Big Bend National Park on August 17 but resumed building a 30-foot steel wall in Hudspeth County this week.
River guide warns of irreversible damage
Danny Miller Jr., a river guide, said his business depends on the Rio Grande and that wall construction would cause irreversible damage to his property.
“visible scar that will never go away”
Government claims legal authority
Customs and Border Protection stated they remain confident in their legal authority to secure the border while preserving Big Bend’s unique landscape.
The big picture
A federal judge halted border wall construction in Big Bend National Park after finding the area has minimal illegal crossings and the government violated environmental laws.
