In Far West Texas, a nearly 110-year-old adobe church, El Corazon Sagrado de la Iglesia de Jesús, faces new threats from the expansion of the U.S.-Mexico border wall, part of President Donald Trump’s broader border security initiative. The church, located in the small town of Ruidosa near Marfa, is one of several historical sites across the Southwest endangered by the construction efforts.

Built during the early 20th century amid the Mexican Revolution and a period of intense migration from Mexico to the United States, the church served as a vital community center for Mexican and Mexican American families on both sides of the border. Its twin towers once stood tall, ringing a heavy bronze bell that called congregants to worship, marking weddings, funerals, and Sunday services for nearly four decades.

However, by the 1950s, environmental changes—including the construction of a dam in New Mexico and prolonged drought—led to the decline of Ruidosa’s agriculture and the town’s gradual depopulation. The church fell into disrepair after the Catholic Diocese retired its mission status in 1956, and one tower collapsed by the early 1990s. The bell was removed in the 1960s and eventually found its way back to the community last year after being stored for decades in a local jail.

Local volunteers and preservationists have worked to restore the church, regarding it as a physical link to a shared Southwestern history shaped by Indigenous, Spanish, Mexican, and American cultures. Restoration efforts have included rebuilding adobe walls, reinforcing the remaining tower with steel supports, and celebrating the return of the bell with a public ceremony in 2023.

Despite these efforts, the church now faces a new threat as border wall construction approaches within yards of its walls. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials maintain that the barrier is vital for curbing drug trafficking and illegal immigration in this remote desert region. They have defended their ability to waive environmental and historical preservation regulations to expedite construction.

Critics, including historians, preservationists, and local residents, warn that vibrations and heavy machinery could irreparably damage the fragile adobe structure. They also contend that the project risks erasing centuries of Mexican and Latino history embedded in the borderlands. Similar concerns have been raised across the Southwest, where Indigenous sites, ancient murals, and historic landmarks have been affected by construction.

Protests erupted recently in areas like Big Bend National Park and near the site of the 1918 Porvenir Massacre, where a group of Mexican men and boys was killed by law enforcement and local ranchers. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott paused certain construction activities in Big Bend during a recent visit but insisted the agency remains committed to protecting national treasures while securing the border.

In Ruidosa, local advocates have filed federal lawsuits against the project and continued to push back with support from some landowners, including individuals who align politically with the administration. Mike Green, a retired architect and leader of the church’s restoration nonprofit, stressed the broader historical significance of the site, noting the longstanding cooperation between border communities such as Presidio, Texas, and Ojinaga, Mexico.

For Green and other locals, the church symbolizes more than a building—it is a testament to a shared heritage now imperiled by border enforcement policies. As construction looms, efforts to preserve El Corazon Sagrado reflect a broader debate over history, community, and the future of the U.S.-Mexico border region.