Jordan Goodrich, jordan.goodrich@sierraclub.org
EL PASO, TX - Today, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone issued an emergency injunction to block border barrier and road construction across the Big Bend region. The emergency injunction was sought by the Center for Biological Diversity, Friends of the Ruidosa Church, and a Big Bend-area river guide and landowner, all plaintiffs in the underlying lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s waiver of dozens of laws to push border barrier construction throughout the region. On Wednesday night, the Trump Administration had lifted a temporary pause on construction in Big Bend National Park.
The Sierra Club, Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter, and the National Parks Conservation Association filed an amicus brief supporting the Center for Biological Diversity’s lawsuit in August, 2026, represented by Earthjustice.
This victory is the result of months of organizing and bipartisan support for an end to the destruction. Communities, business owners, local officials, ranchers, farmers, concerned citizens, and organizations like the Sierra Club and our partners participated in protests, sent letters, showed up at public meetings, and took to social media to showcase the detrimental effects of these projects.
In response, Dave Cortez, Director of the Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter, released the following statement:
“This is a monumental day for Texans, for local communities, and for supporters of National Parks and wild places across the United States. Big Bend is one of the most extraordinary landscapes in the country, and Trump’s border construction project has already scarred the land, damaged wildlife habitat, and disrupted the experience of visiting this national park. Big Bend deserves lasting protection from a project that never should have broken ground in the first place. Tonight, we celebrate, and tomorrow we get back to work fighting for a permanent end to all border construction projects harming public lands.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, 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.