Federal officials consider rerouting border wall through Texas wildlife refuge amid lawsuit

During an Oct. 14 federal hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Lance Duke said the government is reviewing a proposal from Hidalgo County Irrigation District No. 2 to relocate the border wall segment currently being built on a levee next to the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge onto the refuge itself. The district sued contractors Spencer Construction LLC and Royal Concrete Products LLC for trespassing on 60 feet of land surrounding an irrigation canal, resulting in a temporary restraining order that remains active.

CBP has not confirmed the relocation but acknowledges the pending litigation and asserts its authority. The district argues the wall’s current path would impede canal maintenance, and its attorney, Lance Kirby, suggested moving the wall 15-20 feet south. Rep. Henry Cuellar, who helped secure prior protections for the refuge, expressed concern that building through the habitat would be harmful and called for alternative security measures. The refuge, a 2,000-acre sanctuary along the Rio Grande, has been a focal point of border-security debates since 2017.