SCOTUS allows Trump admin to temporarily resume border construction in Texas' Big Bend

The justices' ruling stays a preliminary injunction issued last month by a federal district judge in El Paso, who had temporarily halted border wall construction in the region designated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection as the Big Bend Sector while litigation proceeds.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson indicated she would have denied the stay request but did not file a written dissent.

Environmental Concerns

The lawsuit against the project was brought by a coalition of environmental groups and local residents, who claim the Department of Homeland Security violated constitutional provisions by proceeding without congressional authorization and bypassing environmental regulations.

Spanning more than 500 miles, the Big Bend Sector covers roughly a quarter of the U.S.-Mexico border, though it accounted for just 1.3% of all border apprehensions in 2025.

Administration's Rationale

Administration officials have argued the wall is vital to stopping cartel operations active south of the border and curbing the smuggling of large quantities of illicit drugs into the U.S.

Most of the proposed construction in the Big Bend Sector will take place on privately owned land, according to administration officials.

Big Bend National Park is slated for a 17-mile barrier, though officials noted it will not feature the 30-foot steel pedestrian fencing planned in other areas along the southern border.

Political Context

President Donald Trump has long touted border wall expansion as a signature initiative of his strategy to seal the southern border and crack down on illegal immigration.