A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration on Friday from expanding the border wall across Texas’ Big Bend region, putting more than $6 billion in awarded contracts under legal uncertainty.
U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone issued the order after a hearing in El Paso. The ruling blocks several Department of Homeland Security (DHS) waivers that had suspended dozens of environmental and historical protection laws to accelerate construction.
Why the Wall Plan Drew Fire?
Congress set aside $46.5 billion for border wall construction in last year’s spending bill. Big Bend holds the longest unwalled stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border, so U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) made it a focus.
CBP has since awarded five Big Bend contracts worth over $6 billion for its “smart wall,” a mix of 30-foot steel bollard fencing, vehicle barriers and surveillance technology.
Images of bulldozers clearing roads in Big Bend National Park drew backlash in August. CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott paused work, which resumed in September.
Court Finds Merits to Plaintiffs’ Claim
The Friends of the Ruidosa Church, the Center for Biological Diversity and river guide Billy Miller sued to overturn the waivers.
Cardone ruled that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed on the merits of at least one of their claims and were likely to suffer serious, irreparable harm without an injunction. The court also found that the balance of the equities and the public interest favored the plaintiffs.
The order bars the defendants from building border barriers or related infrastructure, or engaging in construction or ground-disturbing activities in the Big Bend Sector, unless and until they comply with all applicable laws. The order also stays the effect of the specified “Big Bend Waivers” for the duration of the injunction.
Laiken Jordahl, a public lands advocate with the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a post on X, “It ain’t over yet, but this win is nothing short of historic.”
Customs and Border Protection did not immediately respond to Benzinga‘s request for comment.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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