Federal Judge Halts Border Wall Construction in Big Bend
Judge Kathleen Cardone blocked the Trump administration from building border barriers across the Big Bend sector in Texas pending a legal resolution.
Federal Judge Kathleen Cardone issued an injunction on Friday halting the construction of border walls across the Big Bend sector in Texas. The ruling blocks the Trump administration from erecting barriers across a 500-mile stretch, including areas within Big Bend National Park.
In a two-page order, Cardone ruled that the federal government cannot use self-granted waivers of environmental and other laws to accelerate construction. She mandated that the government comply with all applicable laws until the legal case is resolved. The lawsuit was brought to the Western District of Texas by a group including a church preservation group and a river boat guide.
United States Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security argued that the barriers are necessary to prevent future shifts in migration patterns. Conversely, the plaintiffs argued that the rugged wilderness of the region already serves as a natural deterrent to illegal crossings.
