Key facts
- The administration wants to build a US-Mexico border barrier in West Texas, including Big Bend National Park.
- A federal judge issued an injunction on October 2 halting construction.
- The lawsuit was brought by the Center for Biological Diversity, a Big Bend-area river guide, and a group seeking to preserve a historic church.
The Trump administration has asked the US Supreme Court to allow the construction of a border barrier in a remote region of West Texas, including Big Bend National Park. The Justice Department filed an emergency request to lift a federal judge's October 2 injunction that halted the project. The administration argues that Congress authorized the Secretary of Homeland Security to build barriers and waive legal requirements for expeditious construction. The lawsuit challenging the project was brought by the Center for Biological Diversity, a local river guide, and a group concerned about a historic church. Plaintiffs challenged waivers issued by former Secretary Kristi Noem and current Secretary Markwayne Mullin, which expedited construction by bypassing environmental and conservation laws. The judge found the waivers exceeded the secretaries' authority. Construction had previously been paused in August following bipartisan criticism over potential impacts on the park's landscape and wildlife.