Story perspectives

Judge Halts Big Bend Wall, Citing Likely Overreach

By Drooid · Oct 16, 2026, 10:29 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Cardone Halts Wall

U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone issued a preliminary injunction halting wall construction in the Big Bend region.
Plaintiffs including the Center for Biological Diversity and residents said the wall would cause irreparable environmental harm.
Judge Cardone found DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin likely exceeded his authority by issuing environmental waivers for the wall.
The administration planned to spend $7.5 billion on additional security infrastructure along a 500-mile stretch through Big Bend.

Summary

ICE Arrests Double

ICE arrests in Texas nearly doubled between February 2025 and February 2026, with about one-third involving criminal convictions.
A Marist poll shows 61% of Texas voters now favor legal pathways for undocumented immigrants.
ICE detention facilities in Texas held 18,734 people in February, according to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse.
Senate candidate James Talarico leads Republican Ken Paxton among Latino voters, 54% to 41%.

Summary

ICE Officer Strikes

District Attorney Sean Teare says video shows an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer striking Miguel Parra Hernandez and fleeing.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have declined to share requested information with Teare’s investigation.
Sheriff’s deputies impounded the Jeep Cherokee and downloaded crash data after the officer drove away.
FIEL Houston’s Cesar Espinosa disputes ICE’s account of the target’s identity and the vehicle strike.

History

Historical Context

The Secure Fence Act of 2006, signed by President George W. Bush, authorized construction of a continuous border fence along the U.S.–Mexico frontier. Congress allocated $1.2 billion, and the Department of Homeland Security erected roughly 700 miles of fencing by 2011, exceeding initial projections. Now, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone blocks a $7.5 billion wall in Big Bend, while ICE arrests in Texas have doubled, echoing the act’s enforcement surge. The 2006 precedent signals courts may further restrict border projects and force DHS to justify waivers, shaping immigration policy through the 2030s.

1 of 4

Cardone Halts Wall

U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone issued a preliminary injunction halting wall construction in the Big Bend region.
Plaintiffs including the Center for Biological Diversity and residents said the wall would cause irreparable environmental harm.
Judge Cardone found DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin likely exceeded his authority by issuing environmental waivers for the wall.
The administration planned to spend $7.5 billion on additional security infrastructure along a 500-mile stretch through Big Bend.

1 / 4