Key Facts

• The Trump administration wants to build a border wall in Big Bend, West Texas, to strengthen security on the border with Mexico.
• The Justice Department filed an emergency request to the Supreme Court to lift a lower court’s order that stopped construction.
• Environmental groups and local challengers filed a lawsuit to protect the landscape, wildlife, and a historic church in the area.
• The court halted the wall after deciding that government officials exceeded their authority by waiving environmental laws to speed up construction.
• The Big Bend region covers about 500 miles of the border and accounts for roughly 1% of migrant arrests according to critics.
• The $1.7 billion project includes vehicle barriers, roads for patrol, lighting, and detection technology.
• Former and current Homeland Security officials called the area a “high illegal entry” zone, justifying increased border barriers.
• The Supreme Court has not yet decided whether to allow construction to continue.