Trump officials sue Catholic diocese in bid to seize land for border wall
Summary
President Trump's administration is suing the Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces to take land in New Mexico for building a border wall. The land includes a religious site at Mount Cristo Rey, where many people hold annual pilgrimages.Key Facts
- The Trump administration wants 14 acres of land at Mount Cristo Rey in Dona Ana County, New Mexico.
- Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin filed the lawsuit to seize the land using eminent domain, a legal process to take private land for public use.
- The government offered $183,071 as compensation for the land.
- The land includes a shrine with a 29-foot limestone statue of Jesus Christ and hosts annual pilgrimages with up to 40,000 visitors.
- The Catholic Diocese is fighting the land seizure by citing their right to religious freedom under the First Amendment and a related law protecting religious expression.
- Local resistance has delayed border wall construction in some areas and even removed parts of the wall in Texas parks.
- The Trump administration says landowners will have little choice but to allow construction or face eminent domain.
- Neither the Department of Homeland Security nor the Diocese gave comments when asked.
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