Court Extends Pause on Border Work in Big Bend National Park
A federal judge extends a pause on border construction in Big Bend National Park until mid-September, following a lawsuit by opponents.
The federal government has agreed in court to extend a pause on border-related construction in Big Bend National Park until mid-September. The decision, announced during a hearing in San Antonio on Friday, was welcomed by groups challenging the project.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) had already halted activity after its commissioner, Rodney Scott, visited the park last week to consult with local officials. That visit came after bulldozers began clearing parts of the park in far south Texas, sparking public outcry. The Department of Homeland Security said at the time that the work was preliminary design and survey activity, not full construction. The earlier pause was set to expire on Monday.
The government's plans for the park include a new road, detection technology, and vehicle barriers, though a government attorney stressed on Friday that no final decisions have been made. The pause applies to the national park and a section of land upriver and west of it, according to a Justice Department lawyer.
U.S. District Judge Orlando L. Garcia said he hoped both sides would use the extra time to address each other's concerns. The work is part of a broader $46 billion administration plan to secure the 2,000-mile border with a mix of walls, barriers, and technology.
The lawsuit alleges the government overstepped its authority by building in a national park established by Congress. It also claims the construction would violate the religious freedoms and cultural practices of Native Americans who use the area for ceremonies and access to burial sites.
The government argued that Congress has granted CBP the authority to build border infrastructure and waive certain regulations to do so quickly. It also said plaintiffs have not shown that the projects would restrict religious practice.
Texas State Senator Roland Gutierrez, a Democrat who argued against the government, called the outcome a "win" even though the pause is temporary. He said any delay until the November midterm elections could lead to a rethink of border wall plans if control of Congress changes.