A federal judge in El Paso has issued an injunction blocking construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall in the Big Bend region of Texas, dealing a setback to the Trump administration’s efforts to extend barriers along the border. Judge Kathleen Cardone ruled on Friday that the federal government is prohibited from building any border barrier or conducting related ground-disturbing activities in the Big Bend sector until the legal case is resolved.

In her two-page order, Judge Cardone emphasized that the government must adhere to all environmental and other applicable laws and cannot rely on the waivers it had granted itself to fast-track construction. She noted that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed on at least one of their legal claims challenging the waivers and the construction plan.

The lawsuit was filed in the Western District of Texas by a coalition that includes a river boat guide and a church preservation group. It aims to halt U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s plans to build barriers along a stretch exceeding 500 miles of the southern border, including areas within Big Bend National Park. The region, known for its rugged wilderness and low incidence of illegal crossings, has seen months of protests and intermittent construction activity.

Opponents argue that the remote terrain deters most crossings, resulting in far fewer migrants entering through this sector compared to other parts of the Texas-Mexico border. Federal officials have countered that construction is justified despite current low crossing numbers, asserting that migrants may increasingly attempt entry via the Big Bend area as other border sectors fortify their barriers.

Following the ruling, activists and local residents celebrated outside the courthouse. Billy Miller, a river guide from Terlingua, Texas, and one of the named plaintiffs, described the injunction as a reprieve for preserving the wilderness experience in the region. “It means that we can continue to introduce people to the wilderness,” he said. Environmental advocates present in court also called the decision a significant victory. Laiken Jordahl, a Center for Biological Diversity advocate and plaintiff witness, declared that the order effectively stops all construction activity across the Big Bend sector.

The Department of Homeland Security had no immediate comment following the ruling. The case is expected to continue in court as stakeholders await a final resolution on the viability of the border barrier project in this area.