Trump Administration Asks Supreme Court to Revive 500-Mile Border Wall Plan
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Oct 21
Trump Administration Asks Supreme Court to Revive 500-Mile Border Wall Plan
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Oct 21
Summary
An emergency filing on Wednesday asked the Supreme Court to let border wall construction resume in southwest Texas after a federal judge blocked work in the Big Bend region.
Judge Kathleen Cardone ruled on Oct. 2 that the administration likely exceeded its authority by waiving environmental and other laws to speed construction, then refused Tuesday to pause that order.
Solicitor General D. John Sauer told the justices the injunction is “baseless” and would leave a 300-plus-mile gap in border defenses vulnerable to cartels and other crossings.
A river guide, church preservation group, environmental group and local landowners sued in April over a plan covering more than 500 miles of the Mexico border, including sections in Big Bend National Park.
The case now puts the administration’s border-security push against local environmental and constitutional objections, with the justices not yet setting a briefing schedule.