Judge Kathleen Cardone, after a brief reminder to keep the courtroom calm, issued a preliminary injunction that stops all ground‑disturbing activities associated with the five planned wall segments in Texas’ Big Bend region.
The injunction follows a lawsuit filed by the Center for Biological Diversity, the Friends of the Ruidosa Church, and river guide Danny Miller, who claim the projects violate the Constitution.
Each of the five contracts, worth a combined $7.5 billion, would span more than 30 miles of the Rio Grande corridor, severing ranchers’ and tourists’ access to the river.
Miller, who guides visitors along the river, told the court that a wall would strip his property of its lifeline, describing the loss as a ‘bullet to the head’.
DHS officials, including former Secretary Kristi Noem, argue that the barriers are necessary for operational control, citing the need to prevent unauthorized crossings and protect the nation’s borders.
Cardone’s order is temporary; the full case will be heard on June 14, when the court will decide whether the wall projects can proceed.