POLISCOPE
Back to feed
NewsKPBS Public MediaSeptember 14, 2026United States

Texas landowners sue federal government to halt Big Bend border wall construction

Photo: KPBS Public Media

Six Texas landowners and a nonprofit filed a federal lawsuit on Monday against the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection to stop border wall construction in the Big Bend region. The lawsuit challenges federal waivers used to bypass environmental and public health laws, and alleges the project violates fifth amendment due process rights. The court has 60 days to respond to the filing.

Border WallEminent DomainLawsuitProperty RightsEnvironment
Read the full story at KPBS Public Media

Why It Matters

The lawsuit seeks an to stop border wall construction across private, state, and federal lands, directly impacting property ownership, access to the Rio Grande for farming, and regional infrastructure projects.

Key Facts

  • Six Texas landowners and the nonprofit Conserve Big Bend filed a lawsuit in U.S. district court in Washington D.C. against DHS and CBP.
  • The lawsuit challenges federal waivers issued by the DHS Secretary that determined the Big Bend Sector to be an area of high illegal entry.
  • The Big Bend Sector accounted for fewer than 1.5 percent of total apprehensions on the southwest border over the past five years according to CBP data.
  • Federal waivers allowed the government to bypass dozens of environmental, public health, cultural, and historic preservation laws under IIRIRA.
  • The lawsuit seeks an injunction to stop border wall construction across the region, including inside Big Bend National Park.
  • Plaintiffs claim the project violates fifth amendment due process rights and cuts landowners off from water access from the Rio Grande.
  • The court has 60 days to respond to the lawsuit.
  • Over $7 billion has been awarded for Big Bend Sector border barrier projects.
  • The landowner coalition represents 230 landowners across five counties, covering roughly half of the private landowners in the Big Bend Sector.

Who's Mentioned

locationRuidosa“Location near where Miller's family ranch is in the wall's path”PersonMarkwayne Mullin“DHS Secretary named in the lawsuit”other230“Number of landowners represented by Conserve Big Bend”other517“Length in miles of the Big Bend Sector”locationBig Bend National Park“Area included in the region where wall construction is sought to be stopped”locationBig Bend Sector“517-mile stretch of the border targeted for wall construction”otherIllegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act“Statute used to bypass environmental and public health laws”locationRio Grande“River along which bollard walls and barriers are planned”OrganizationU.S. Customs and Border Protection“Defendant in the lawsuit”locationBig Bend region“Region subject to border wall plans and the lawsuit”PersonYolanda Alvarado“Landowner affected by the border wall plans”OrganizationConserve Big Bend“Nonprofit plaintiff representing 230 landowners”locationMarfa“Location of the press conference announcing the lawsuit”OrganizationDepartment of Homeland Security“Defendant in the lawsuit”other30“Height in feet of the proposed steel bollard walls”locationU.S.-Mexico border“Geographic area where landowners are fighting property seizure”locationPresidio County courthouse“Location of the press conference in Marfa”OrganizationNo Big Bend Wall“Project of Conserve Big Bend representing local landowners”PersonClara Bensen“Board member of No Big Bend Wall”locationWashington D.C.“Location where the lawsuit was filed in U.S. district court”PersonLico Miller“Member of No Big Bend Wall's landowner coalition”PersonRodney Scott“CBP Commissioner named in the lawsuit”PersonDavid Keller“Landowner and plaintiff in the lawsuit”