Texan landowners challenge federal plan to carve border wall through Big Bend

A coalition of about 230 private landowners in Texas filed a federal lawsuit in Washington, D.C., seeking to block the Trump administration from building border walls, barriers and roads through their land in the remote Big Bend region. The plaintiffs argue the area was wrongly designated a “high illegal entry” zone to enable government use of extraordinary powers to seize land, despite the Big Bend sector reporting the fewest border apprehensions in recent years. They say roughly 65% of the planned 609 miles would cross private property across several counties, risking access to the Rio Grande and impacting local ranching, recreation and property rights. CBP recently paused work in Big Bend National Park, with that pause expiring Sept. 30 as the lawsuit proceeds.