Federal judge halts Big Bend border wall construction, voids federal waivers
U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone issued a preliminary injunction on October 2, 2026, halting all border barrier construction in Texas's Big Bend region. The order stops 'ground-disturbing activities' within one mile of the Rio Grande and inside Big Bend National Park until the lawsuit is resolved. The ruling also voids federal waivers that allowed the administration to bypass environmental and cultural resource laws. The decision follows months of bipartisan opposition and comes after the first wall panels were erected in mid-September.