Courtney Bourgoin, courtney.bourgoin@sierraclub.org, 248 214 6682
PASADENA, Calif.— A federal appeals court will hear an appeal Tuesday brought by the Sierra Club, Center for Biological Diversity and the state of California challenging a federal court decision allowing Trump’s border wall replacement project near San Diego to proceed. A rally against the wall will precede the hearing.
Attorneys are asking the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to rule that the Trump administration illegally waived dozens of laws to build replacement walls and prototypes south of San Diego. The appeal challenges the administration’s use of the long-expired waiver to sweep aside more than 30 laws that protect clean air, clean water, public lands and endangered wildlife.
What: 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals court hearing challenging Trump’s border wall
When: Tuesday, Aug. 7: Rally in front of the courthouse at 8:15 a.m.; hearing begins at 9 a.m.
Where: U.S. Court of Appeals, 125 S. Grand Ave., Pasadena, CA
Media Availability: Attorneys and organizers will be available for media interviews outside the courthouse, before and after the hearing.
Background
The Department of Homeland Security exempted itself from more than 30 laws to rush construction of border-wall replacement projects and prototypes south of San Diego. But the waiver authority, granted by Congress more than 10 years ago, no longer applies.
The Sierra Club and Center sued the Trump administration last year and a U.S. District Court judge heard arguments on the matter in February. In March the judge ruled against the Center, the state of California and other conservation groups. This appeal challenges the ruling.
The border-wall replacement project would include 14 miles of new primary and secondary border fencing from the Pacific Ocean to Otay Mesa. This region of coastal San Diego County contains wetlands, streams and other rare wildlife habitats, as well as critical habitat for numerous endangered species, including the Quino checkerspot butterfly and coastal California gnatcatcher.
Beyond jeopardizing wildlife, endangered species and public lands, the U.S.-Mexico border wall is part of a larger strategy of ongoing border militarization that damages human rights, civil liberties, native lands, local businesses and international relations. The border wall impedes the natural migrations of people and wildlife that are essential to healthy diversity.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.