White House Seeks Supreme Court Relief in Big Bend Border Construction Case
The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to overturn a lower court’s block on border wall and related construction in the Big Bend region. A federal judge had ordered Homeland Security to comply with environmental and historical preservation laws that had been waived. The administration contends it faces irreparable harm without emergency relief.
The administration’s emergency filing followed Judge Kathleen Cardone’s refusal on Wednesday to let Homeland Security proceed while the case continues. Earlier this month, she had required the agency to honor environmental and historic-preservation statutes that it had set aside for the Big Bend plans.
The disputed area covers more than 500 miles along the southern border and includes state and national parks. Local landowners and officials have objected, citing environmental risks and questioning the need for more barrier infrastructure. Solicitor General D. John Sauer argued that the lower court misapplied major-questions doctrine and improperly narrowed the secretary’s waiver authority under a 1990s immigration enforcement law.
The dispute could affect West Texas landowners, local businesses, park visitors, and federal border operations. A Supreme Court ruling may determine how quickly construction proceeds and how much environmental review applies in protected landscapes. It could also shape how courts assess agency waivers in future border projects, affecting residents and conservation groups that want a role in planning.