The U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for the Trump administration to resume border barrier construction in the Big Bend region of West Texas, including Big Bend National Park. The 8-1 unsigned decision put on hold a federal judge's order that halted work.
Trump administrationapplicant seeking to resume construction
U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardoneissued order halting construction
Justice Ketanji Brown Jacksondissented without providing reason
Kristi Noemformer Homeland Security Secretary who issued waivers
Markwayne MullinHomeland Security Secretary who issued waivers
Center for Biological Diversitychallenger in lawsuit
Danny Millerriver guide and property owner, challenger in lawsuit
Friends of the Ruidosa Churchnonprofit challenger in lawsuit
The facts
Supreme Court issued an 8-1 unsigned ruling pausing federal judge's order halting border wall construction.23Stated by 2 sources
Federal judge Kathleen Cardone issued order last month halting construction over concern government exceeded authority to waive environmental laws.23Stated by 2 sources
Homeland Security waivers were issued under 1996 federal law facilitating border barrier construction in high illegal entry areas.45Stated by 2 sources
Kristi Noem issued waivers in February; Markwayne Mullin issued waivers in May and July.45Stated by 2 sources
Supreme Court ruling is temporary until the Court decides to hear the case or it settles in lower court.23Stated by 2 sources
Center for Biological Diversity, Danny Miller, and Friends of the Ruidosa Church challenged the project.45Stated by 2 sources
Big Bend National Park would receive 17-mile noncontiguous vehicle barrier system, not 30-foot pedestrian barriers.4
Who said what
These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.
Trump administration Area has high illegal entry and cartels operate south of region; most construction on privately owned land.45
Trump administration Border officials seized massive drug quantities in region.4
Challengers Construction would result in permanent alteration of irreplaceable landscape and threaten unique historic and cultural resources.5
Challengers Big Bend has lowest apprehension rates for migrants along border.5
Solicitor General D. John Sauer Congress in 1996 gave government broad authority to build border infrastructure without red tape.5
Where the sources disagree
Big Bend area's level of illegal crossings 89,000 people detained there in recent years per Trump administration [5]; lowest apprehension rates on southern border per challengers [5]
Construction scope in Big Bend sector More than 300 miles per administration [4]; 341 miles per government [5]
How they headlined it
The same event, as each outlet put it. Marked words appear in only one outlet's headline.
Supreme Court clears the way for border wall construction in Texas’s Big Bend to resume
These outlets were found through Google News headlines. Google decides which outlets appear there, and they lean mostly one way, so this sheet can only be as balanced as the reporting it was built from. Leanings are AllSides Media Bias Ratings.
The parents of 8-year-old Mary Grace Baker, who died in the July 4, 2025 flooding at Camp Mystic, filed a wrongful death lawsuit on November 9, 2026. The lawsuit alleges negligence and that the camp failed to protect campers despite knowing the property faced significant flood risk.
Clarke Baker and Katie Baker, parents of Mary Grace Baker; plaintiffs in lawsuit; Mary Grace Baker, 8-year-old camper who died in July 4, 2025 flooding; Camp Mystic, defendant; all-girls camp in Hunt, Texas and 2 more
The Bell County District Attorney's Office dropped three capital felony charges against Marvin Louis Guy, who was convicted in 2023 of murdering a Killeen SWAT team leader serving a no-knock warrant.
Marvin Louis Guy, defendant convicted in 2023 of murdering a Killeen SWAT team leader
Matthew Shane Zachary was arrested and charged with murder in connection with a homicide at a residence in Gaines County. The Texas Department of Public Safety Texas Rangers are leading the investigation with assistance from the Gaines County Sheriff's Office.
$$750,000 for bond
Matthew Shane Zachary, Suspect arrested and charged with murder; Gaines County Sheriff's Office, Law enforcement investigating homicide; Texas Department of Public Safety Texas Rangers, Leading the investigation
Texas governor-elect Gina Hinojosa said in a CNN interview that the state should pause work with data centers until protections for residents are in place. She promised to introduce laws to change the state's approach and said communities should have a role in deciding whether data centers are built there.
Democrats in the Texas Legislature filed legislation Monday as bill filing opened for the 2027 session. Proposals included Medicaid expansion, minimum wage increases, ending data center tax breaks, banning Flock cameras, repealing ICE partnership requirements for sheriffs, forbidding border wall construction at state parks, ending school vouchers, boosting per-pupil school funding, legalizing marijuana, and building high-speed rail from Dallas to San Antonio.
$up to $10 billion a year for medicaid expansion annual funding to Texas
State Rep. John Bucy, D-Austin, filed Medicaid expansion bill; State Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, filed companion Medicaid bill; Rep. Jolanda Jones, D-Houston, filed school nurse notification bill and 3 more
El Paso County Sheriff's Office arrested 38-year-old Laron Lenard Watts and charged him with theft of property valued at $150,000 or more after he reportedly refused to return a shipment of fiber-optic cable, trailer, and container worth $155,000 total following a payment dispute.
$$155,000 for estimated value of property (shipping container, trailer chassis, fiber-optic cable)
Laron Lenard Watts, 38-year-old man arrested and charged with theft; El Paso County Sheriff's Office, law enforcement agency conducting investigation and making arrest
Texas is considering a moratorium on new data centers while studying their effects on the electrical grid. Researchers found that synchronized battery systems and data center backup power devices cause regular frequency drops in power grids, though not considered an immediate threat to stability.
Governor Greg Abbott, Governor; Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), Grid operator; Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), Regulatory body and 2 more