How Texas landowners are fighting back against Trump's border wall

A federal judge has temporarily halted construction of the border wall across Texas' Big Bend region, a setback for President Donald Trump's flagship infrastructure effort and a boost for landowners who have organized against it. The administration late Thursday asked the judge to set the order aside while it appeals, according to ABC News.

Congress approved $46 billion for the wall last year, and Customs and Border Protection says it is completing roughly 12 miles of barrier weekly, with more than 200 miles finished this term. Big Bend work began in September under a $7. 5 billion plan covering a stretch of border longer than 500 miles. Officials say the barriers are needed to keep crossings down. Yet in August, Border Patrol made 161 arrests in Big Bend, versus 8,870 along the whole southern border.

Because most Texas land is privately or state owned, the government must win owners' consent or pursue eminent domain, where courts usually side with Washington. Dianna and Dan Burbach, who fear flooding and the loss of 15 acres behind the wall, say they will make officials sue them.

Summarized by PolitiKool from ABC News’s reporting. Read the full story at ABC News →