Judge Halts Big Bend Border-Wall Construction

A federal judge has temporarily halted border-wall construction across Texas’ more than 500-mile Big Bend sector, including Big Bend National Park and state park areas, while a lawsuit challenging the project proceeds. The ruling found that plaintiffs are likely to prevail on at least one claim and could suffer irreparable harm, and it requires the federal government to comply with applicable laws before construction can continue. Landowners, residents and conservation groups argue the $7.5 billion project threatens the region’s river, wildlife, cultural and historic resources, while their resistance and legal challenges have slowed the work. The Trump administration says the wall is needed to maintain low levels of illegal border crossings and has cited progress building barriers elsewhere along the southern border.