Politics

Texas landowners file federal lawsuit to block Trump border wall construction

A coalition argues the Big Bend region was improperly designated as a high-entry zone despite having the lowest border apprehensions.

Updated Sep 14, 2026 · 21:19 UTC3 reports

The short version

A coalition of Texas landowners and the group Conserve Big Bend filed a federal lawsuit to stop the Trump administration from building border walls, barriers, and roads on private properties.[NBC News]
The legal challenge claims the administration wrongly designated the Big Bend sector as an area of high illegal entry to invoke construction powers, noting it accounted for only 1.3% of southwest border apprehensions in 2025.[NBC News]
Conserve Big Bend reports that 65% of the planned 609-mile project in the sector is located on private land.[NBC News]
The lawsuit follows a temporary pause on park construction activity instituted by Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott.[ABC News · The Washington Sun · NBC News]

Conserve Big Bend and six plaintiffs filed a federal lawsuit to stop the construction of border walls, barriers, and roads on private land in western and southwestern Texas.[NBC News]
The lawsuit states that the Big Bend sector recorded the lowest number of apprehensions among all nine southwest border sectors each year over the last five years, including 1.3% in 2025.[NBC News]
According to Conserve Big Bend, 65% of the 609-mile project planned for the Big Bend sector sits on private land.[NBC News]
Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott temporarily paused construction-related activity inside Big Bend National Park.[ABC News · The Washington Sun · NBC News]

It remains unverified how federal courts will rule on the administration's designation of the sector as a zone of high illegal entry.[NBC News]

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.