Politics · United States · 2 hrs ago
Trump asks Supreme Court to allow Big Bend border wall construction
The Trump administration asked the US Supreme Court to restart border barrier construction in the Big Bend region of West Texas, near Mexico.
The project includes land in Big Bend National Park, an area where crews had begun clearing land for roads and border infrastructure.
A federal judge in El Paso halted construction on October 2 while a legal challenge proceeds.
The case was brought by environmental and local groups, including a river guide and a group seeking to protect a historic church.
They argue that government officials exceeded their authority by waiving environmental and conservation laws to speed up the work.
The administration says federal law gives officials power to build barriers and waive legal requirements; it also argues that stopping construction would leave a gap in border defenses.
The Supreme Court has not announced a hearing timetable, and the construction remains halted unless the court changes the judge’s order.
The Trump administration asked the US Supreme Court to allow border wall construction to proceed in the Big Bend region of West Texas.
The request seeks to lift an injunction issued by a federal judge on October 2.
The lawsuit was brought by environmental and local groups and others who challenge the project and the government’s authority to waive laws to speed construction.
The administration says federal law authorizes the waivers and argues that stopping construction would leave a gap in border defences.
Construction plans have drawn opposition over their potential effects on Big Bend National Park, local landscapes and wildlife.
- Who
- The Trump administration asked the US Supreme Court to intervene. Environmental and local groups, a river guide and other challengers sued to stop the project.
- What
- The administration asked the court to lift a federal judge’s order halting border barrier construction in the Big Bend region.
- When
- The emergency request was filed on Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
- Where
- The Big Bend region of West Texas, including Big Bend National Park, along the US-Mexico border.
- Why
- The administration says it has authority to build barriers and waive legal requirements. The challengers say the waivers exceeded the government’s powers and threaten the local environment.
Trump administration
Project challengers
Authority to build
Trump administration
The administration says Congress authorized the secretary to build border barriers and waive legal requirements to speed construction.
Project challengers
The challengers say the administration exceeded its authority by waiving environmental and other laws.
Impact of stopping construction
Trump administration
The administration says halting the section would leave a gap of more than 300 miles in border defences and could be exploited by cartels and others.
Project challengers
The challengers argue the project threatens the local environment and have sought to stop construction.
A river guide, a church-preservation group, an environmental organization and local landowners filed a lawsuit to stop the plan.
The administration paused construction after bipartisan criticism of its potential impact on the park’s landscape and wildlife.
Judge Kathleen Cardone issued an injunction halting construction.
Cardone declined to suspend her injunction.
The Trump administration asked the US Supreme Court to lift the injunction.
- Location
- Big Bend region of West Texas, including Big Bend National Park
- Injunction
- Issued October 2 by US District Judge Kathleen Cardone
- Proposed border plan
- Barriers along more than 800 km of the US-Mexico border
- Administration’s stated gap
- More than 300 miles (480 km) in border defences
- Supreme Court request
- Filed October 21, 2026
3 sources
What people are saying
a dangerous magnet to be exploited by cartels and other bad actors
Congress did clearly authorize the secretary both to build border barriers and to waive legal requirements in order to facilitate their expeditious construction
comply with all applicable laws