Supreme Court lets Trump build border wall through Texas national park
Top judges rule that government’s interest outweighs any aesthetic and environmental harm alleged by respondents
The US Supreme Court has ruled in favor of President Trump's administration, allowing the construction of a border wall in Texas's Big Bend region, including parts of the Big Bend National Park. In a five-page unsigned ruling, the high court granted the Trump administration's request to suspend a lower court order that temporarily halted the project.
Only liberal justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented from the decision. The court noted that the plaintiffs, including environmental groups, argued that the construction would harm the area's use and enjoyment. However, they acknowledged that Congress's immigration law permits the Secretary of Homeland Security to waive environmental and conservation laws, favoring expedited border construction.
The Trump administration intends to build over 300 miles of six-foot-high vehicle barriers and supporting roads, relying on a 1996 law that authorizes the Secretary to waive legal requirements in designated areas with high levels of illegal border crossings. The plaintiffs contend that the project would harm wildlife, public lands, and iconic sections of the Rio Grande's protected river corridor, potentially undermining conservation laws meant to protect various interests.
The border wall plans have faced opposition from local residents, who warn of potential threats to their livelihoods and communities. The CBP, which has awarded over $6 billion in contracts for border security upgrades in Big Bend, plans to complete the wall by the end of Trump's second term.
Written by urgent.news from The Guardian US's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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