Environmental Groups Can’t Block Trump’s Wall in New Mexico

The legal foundation of environmental groups’ suit to block construction of a stretch of President Trump’s wall in New Mexico was undercut by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Under the 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigration Responsibility Act, Congress expressly authorized the erection of physical barriers at the U.S. border to deter illegal crossings. The statute also authorized the attorney general to waive two environmental laws to facilitate construction of the barriers.

IIRIRA was amended in 2006 to allow the AG to waive all laws necessary to build the barriers and to limit federal court jurisdiction ...