A judge Monday settled a lawsuit filed against two federal agencies over the environmental impacts of immigration enforcement along the U.S.-Mexico border. It stems from the Trump administration’s ramped-up wall construction and other operations. KNAU’s Ryan Heinsius reports.
A federal judge said the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection broke the law when they failed to conduct an updated environmental impact statement.
In 2017 the Center for Biological Diversity and Democratic Arizona Congressman Raul Grijlava filed a lawsuit against the agencies. They said the Trump administration waived dozens of laws protecting the environment, wildlife and surrounding communities as it increased off-road vehicle patrols, the installation of high-intensity lighting, and construction of the wall, basecamps and checkpoints. The Center called the ruling a “win for wildlife and communities along the border.”
Federal officials argued there hadn’t in fact been changes in enforcement, but the judge said there were many examples of expanded federal activity at the border. The court didn’t order a new environmental assessment, but the Center hopes the Biden administration will more closely examine the impacts of border enforcement on the flora and fauna of the area.
