A judge temporarily blocks Trump’s wall in Texas, citing risks to the environment and heritage of Big Bend National Park

U.S. federal judge Kathleen Cardone has temporarily blocked the expansion of the wall along the Texas-Mexico border, as well as the construction of roads and barriers in Big Bend National Park. The decision is a setback for the Trump administration’s plan to accelerate border security work and was issued following a lawsuit filed by environmental and heritage protection organizations.

The case was brought by Friends of the Ruidosa Church, the Center for Biological Diversity and river guide Billy Miller. The plaintiffs challenged waivers granted by the Department of Homeland Security, which reportedly suspended dozens of laws protecting the environment and historic sites. These waivers allowed the administration to prepare the work without following all standard procedures.

The plan calls for vehicle barriers more than 1.5 meters high and new roads that could affect the park’s ecosystem. In August, the work was temporarily halted after images emerged showing machinery leveling the ground, but it resumed in September.

Activist Laiken Jordahl welcomed the ruling, describing it as a victory for Big Bend. Last year, the U.S. Congress allocated $46.5 billion for construction of the border wall.