Trump Administration Asks Supreme Court to Resume Border Wall

The Trump administration filed an emergency application with the Supreme Court of the United States on Wednesday to resume construction of a border wall in the Big Bend region of southwest Texas. The request seeks to overturn an October 2 ruling by Judge Kathleen Cardone of a federal court in El Paso, who blocked the project after finding the government likely exceeded its authority by waiving federal environmental laws.

Solicitor General D. John Sauer argued that the lower court's decision was baseless. He warned that the current halt in construction creates a "300-plus-mile gap in border defenses" that could "act as a dangerous magnet for cartels and other bad actors to exploit."

The project has faced legal challenges since April from a coalition including local landowners, an environmental group, a church preservation group, and a river boat guide. These plaintiffs allege the construction plan exceeds constitutional powers and threatens the local environment. Judge Cardone previously ordered the government to "comply with all applicable laws" before proceeding.