Federal Judge Halts Construction of Trump Border Wall in Big Bend

US District Judge Kathleen Cardone, a George W. Bush appointee, determined that the plaintiffs—including the Center for Biological Diversity—were likely to succeed on the merits of their case. Her order prohibits the Department of Homeland Security from engaging in any ground-disturbing activities and effectively stays the effect of three federal waivers previously used to bypass environmental and land-use protections. The injunction remains in place while the court evaluates the lawsuit challenging the administration’s claim that the region requires immediate security fortification.

Contractors had been bulldozing areas near Santa Elena Canyon and Mariscal Mountain since August. While the administration justifies the project as essential for border control, critics point to federal data indicating that the Big Bend Sector accounted for only 1.3% of total border apprehensions in 2025. Local landowners and guides have testified that the construction threatens to permanently alter the landscape and obstruct vital access to the Rio Grande. Laiken Jordahl, a public lands advocate, described the ruling as a victory against the destruction of a crown-jewel national park for political theater. Despite the pause, the underlying legal battle continues, and the long-term status of the border project remains uncertain.