Trump Admin Asks Judge to Allow Border Wall Construction in Big Bend Region
In a court filing on Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) requested that a federal judge suspend her previous order halting construction of border walls and related infrastructure in the Big Bend area of West Texas. The administration plans to appeal the case to the Supreme Court.
Less than a week prior, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone ordered an immediate pause on all construction activities in the region, citing high levels of illegal entry. This decision followed a lawsuit filed by the Center for Biological Diversity, Friends of the Ruidosa Church, and a local river guide, who argued that the project would cause significant environmental harm to the historically least-trafficked sector of the southwest border.
In its filing, the administration described Judge Cardone's order as "unprecedented," illegal, and likely to result in costly delays for their border plans. They requested that the judge provide an explanation for her decision by next week. CBP estimated daily costs of at least $462,800 during the pause, with potential additional expenses of up to $7 million for the removal and subsequent redeployment of workers and equipment across five Big Bend projects.
This move comes as the administration seeks to continue its border construction efforts in a region that has seen minimal illegal immigration activity.